Naito survives Chinese 'Little Tyson's' world title challenge

TOKYO: Japan's Daisuke Naito survived a sixth-round knockdown to retain his World Boxing Council flyweight title by a unanimous decision over China's Xiong Zhaozhong here on Tuesday.

Xiong, 26, was making the first crack at a world title by a male Chinese professional boxer. China, where boxing was banned in the 1960s and 1970s, has already produced champions in women's pro boxing.

Naito, with a height advantage of 12.5 centimeters and a 14.5-centimeter longer reach, piled on the points but suffered cuts above his both eyes from accidental butting in early rounds.