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Reigning WBO female minimum weight champion Su-Yun Hong retained her title with a split decision verdict over Japanese challenger Mari And hours ago in Seoul, Korea.
Hong took the early initiative, piling up points, but the challenger came out stronger in the latter rounds in what was described by WBO supervisor Leon Panoncillo as a ‘great back to back action fight.’
Judge Kyung-Hun Lee had it 99-91 and Bruce McTavish saw it 98-92 both in favor of the defending champion while Katsuhiko Nakamura saw it for the challenger, 96-94.
It was the Korean girl’s second defense of the WBO title she took by outpointing Thai Teeraporn Pannimit in Macau last year. She initially defended the title with a fifth-round TKO over Buangern Onesongchaigym last April 27 in Jinju City, South Korea.
With the win, Hong now improves to 9 wins, 0 loss, 5 KO’s.
Referee for the fight was Danrex Tapdasan Esq., while special mention goes to the hardworking Aaron Jang of the Korean Boxing Commission.