Xiong Zhao Zhong vs. Oswaldo Novoa RBR

The party is over for Zhong now as far as world contention, I think.

It was something of a miracle that he climbed the mountaintop in the first place. Between his diminutive stature, coming from a country with virtually no foothold in world class boxing, and possessing only meager talent, it was a wonder he ever got a world title belt... and if straw weren't so uniquely tidal in nature (high tide, lots of talent flooding in...then when it all follows the undertow out to deeper waters you're left with absolute rabble and broken shells on the beach :! his talents would have never gotten him there.

If this sounds overly disparaging of Zhong, it definitely isn't meant to be; just honest. I like Zhong, and have for some time, and was singing his praises long before he made history. Many have forgotten or never knew that five years ago he challenged for a world title up at fly, and gave well-regarded Daisuke Naito absolute fits. That was Naito's last successful defense and one might even go as far as to say Zhong softened him up for Kameda. I was thrilled to see him unexpectedly given a stab at the vacant WBC straw belt and given the break he fought well and earned it. (say what you will about he and Resendiz being worthy to compete for it, but that is the mercurial way of the weight class - sometimes the dregs rise up to replace the real cream once the cream is skimmed...)

I think when he achieved that, his management had two options to make the most of it:

1) Cash out quickly in a unification - or just go after the biggest name campaigning there (quickly now! before they move up...), regardless of whether or not they have a belt - knowing that he would probably lose to anyone much better than Resendiz.

2) Keep it local and import no-hopers to milk his reign and help build up the sport at home...knowing that any of those no-hopers ranked highly enough to contend might really get up for it and potentially end his run since they are realistically his own level anyway.

Basically an up front lump sum to go out on your shield, or the less respectable and less glamorous route with a flat legacy and pennies on the dollar trickling in but possibly adding up to more in the long run.

It seems his first defense (Denver Cuello) was along the lines of strategy #1, and when it was too close for comfort they gambled and switched to #2 for the next two (Lookrak Kiatmungmee - a late sub for equally uninspiring challenger Omari Kimweri - and of course Oswaldo Novoa, who made their gamble costly...)

He was in the right place at the right time. It took his entire prime to claw his way back to a world title after his last shot. He likely won't have another reign. If he does, I'll be happy for him, but even with straw riddled with mediocrity he would need a lot of luck, time (which he no longer has, 31 is very old in the lower extremities) and patience to get back on top.

 

As for a rematch - Novoa has far less ability but clearly had Zhong's #. It would be courageous as hell and fitting with the character of "The Chinese Tyson" aka "Pocket Hercules" (these were a couple of his media-assigned nicknames circa the Naito challenge; I always hoped either of them would catch on and become his official ring moniker :yep) - but it would be stupid.

Novoa figured out how to get to him and it didn't take long. He won't have forgotten next time...and Zhong emptied his playbook from plan A through Z and still got trounced. Pound for pound Zhong is the more estimable talent and worthier champion (such as they are, down there) but head to head, unless he can hit Novoa with a shrink-ray, he is barking up the wrong tree.