In 16 minutes and 24 seconds, huge underdog Osvaldo Novoa (13-4-1, 8KOs) from Guadalajara radically changed his life, as he traveled over to China and knocked out hometown hero Xiong Zhao Zhong to capture the WBC strawweight title.
"This victory has changed my life. It never crossed my mind to return to Guadalajara with a defeat. I knew that I had to win," stressed Novoa.
Six years ago" Gallito" Novoa didn't even think of fighting in a boxing ring, much less becoming a beltholder in the tradition of Ricardo "Finito" Lopez who reigned for 11 years as minimumweight champion.
Novoa recalled that last year he fought three times and generated 60 thousand pesos ($4,517 USD), and that represents five thousand pesos per month to provide for his wife and two children .
“There were times I thought about retirement, but my manager told me 'you are just one step away from the world championship.'"
Gallito thanks his team and his family for the confidence in the crucial times. Now he made his dream come true.
As he commented: "People saw that I had a future and predicted I'd be champion!"
