My greatest moment – China’s Zou Shiming lifts world title in Las Vegas after classy win over Prasitsak

Two-time Olympic gold medallist defeats Prasitsak Phaprom for the vacant WBO flyweight title with a classy exhibition on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Vargas bout

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Zou Shiming of China poses with his wife, Yingying Ran, Top Rank Founder and CEO Bob Arum, and his team after his unanimous-decision victory over Prasitsak Phaprom of Thailand during their WBO flyweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:00am, 6 Nov 2016Updated: 1:05am, 7 Nov 2016

When it was all over, Zou Shiming thumped his chest and hugged his team. After a three-year wait, some setbacks and a lot of heartache, China’s poster boy of boxing finally achieved his dream of becoming a professional world champion.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time world amateur champion, easily outboxed, out-manoeuvred and outsmarted Thailand’s Prasitsak Phaprom to lift the vacant WBO flyweight title at Thomas & Mack Centre on Sunday morning (HK time). This was Zou’s greatest night and one of China’s proudest moments as the 35-year-old Guizhou native landed only the second world professional title for the mainland.

It was Zou’s 10th professional fight since turning pro in January 2013. The man they call the “Fists of Gold” won every round of the 12-round title fight. Judges had it 120-107 and 119-108 in his favour.

“This has been my dream. I have finally achieved it,” said Zou after his lop-sided, unanimous victory over the Thai whose record dropped to 39-2-22, 24 KOs.

Zou Shiming stands over Prasitak Phaprom after knocking the Thai down to the canvas. Photo: AP

“I didn’t really feel pressure. I felt calm and relaxed throughout the bout,” said Zou, who was seen smiling as he returned to his stool after each round.