Zou takes vacant WBO flyweight title, dominates Phaprom

Zou Shiming of China delivers a left to the head of opponent Prasitak Papoem of Thailand during their WBO flyweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

Zou Shiming took his first World title after hammering away at an outclassed Prasitak Phaprom Sunday (Manila time) in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Vargas match at Thomas & Mack Center.

It was a unanimous decision victory for the Chinese superstar as he walked away with the vacant WBO World flyweight title.

Zou scored an overwhelming approval from the three judges, 120-107, 120-107, 119-108, in his second win against Phaprom. The last time they met, the Freddie Roach-mentored fighter also pummeled the Thai to a UD win.

The Zou-Kwanpichit fight opened an impressive three-title undercard for Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight against Jessie Vargas.

Phaprom met the canvas in the second round after his chin absorbed Zou’s right uppercut.

Zou improved to 9-1 with two knockouts, with his only loss coming in his first title attempt when he lost to Amnat Ruenroeng in Macau last year.

Kwanpichit was riding a two-year, 12-bout winning streak since his sole loss to Zou.

All of his victories during the streak had come by knockout but he was unable to close in on Zou, who used his superior defensive skills to stay out of trouble.

Zou gave the Thai plenty of punishment, especially in the first half of the fight, when he used a steady jab and combination punches to keep the more aggressive Kwanpichit at bay. Zou landed a total of 347 punches to just 107 for Kwanpichit. Agence France-Presse