Miguel Vazquez and Zou Shiming to headline February 22 card in Macau
IBF lightweight beltholder Miguel Vazquez of Mexico and Chinese two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming will headline a February 22 card in Macau.
Vazquez (33-3, 13 KOs), captured the IBF lightweight title in 2010 when he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Jihoon Kim. Since winning the world title, Vazquez has successfully defended it five times during his four-year reign. Vazquez will be facing undefeated contender Denis Shafikov (33-0-1. 17 KOs), of Russia. A southpaw with an aggressive style, good skills and punching power.
Shiming (3-0) will face flyweight rival Yokthong Kokietgym (15-3, 11 KOs) of Thailand.
Also on the card are 2012 Olympic gold medalists Ryota Murata, a middleweight from Japan in his third professional fight, and Egor Mekhontsev, a light heavyweight from Russia in his second pro bout. Murata will face Brazilian Carlos Nascimento and Mekhontsev will meet Thai fighter Jaritram Atthaporn.
In a featherweight battle of ex-beltholders, Japan's Akifumi Shimoda will meet Marvin Sonsona of the Philippines.
Shimoda (28-3-2, 12 KOs), captured the WBA super bantamweight title in 2011, dethroning defending champion Ryol Li Lee via a unanimous decision aided by three knockdowns. Shimoda lost the title in his first title defense, to Rico Ramos, six months later.
Sonsona (17-1-1, 14 KOs, captured the WBO junior bantamweight title in 2009, winning a decisive unanimous decision over defending champion Jose “Carita” Lopez . Sonsona lost the title in his first defense on the scale coming in two pounds over the division limit, against Alejandro Hernandez, though the official decision was a draw.