Hisense Named Official Partner of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
01 Nov 2024 16:40
Double Olympic champion flyweight Zou Shiming has vowed to put China on the global boxing map by winning his first professional world title in China’s Macau next month.
The 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist was a three-time world champion in a fine amateur career, but he believes that if he beats the undefeated Thai Amnat Ruenroeng in March he would finally bring Chinese boxing to the world’s attention.
“I swore to fulfil my dreams to become a professional fighter, to achieve world titles and to bring China into the worldwide boxing family,” Zou said in an interview in Los Angeles.
Zou is currently training for the fight at legendary trainer Freddie Roach’s Wildcard gym in the United States city.
The boxer denied that fanatical support in his homeland — where up to 300 million are expected to watch the clash for the International Boxing Federation belt — was heaping pressure on him.
“The pressure doesn’t come from my home country, but comes from myself and that made me enter the pro ring in my 30’s,” said the 33-year-old Guizhou Province native.
Veteran promoter Bob Arum has dubbed Zou “the poster boy” for the rise of Chinese professional boxing.
“Zou is the engine behind all of this activity in China,” said Arum. “He’s the poster boy.”
Zou is quickly assuming superstar status following a cameo appearance in the latest “Transformers” movie and after starring in advertisements for Beats headphones with NBA icon LeBron James and tennis legend Serena Williams
His soaring popularity back home will hit the stratosphere should he win at the Venetian Macau casino on March 7.
In just two years since Zou’s first professional fight at the Venetian’s Cotai Arena, the venue has become the home of boxing in Asia.
It has hosted all of Zou’s six professional fights and two world title cards featuring the Filipino eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter of the past 15 years.
Zou’s last outing in November — second on the bill to Pacquia’s demolition of Chris Algieri — saw him go 12 rounds for the first time and batter another experienced Thai, Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, in a runaway points victory.
Zou (6-0, 1 KO) expects a much tougher battle against Amnat (14-0, 5 KOs) who is making his third defense of the IBF flyweight title.
The pair fought three times in their amateur careers with Zou winning the last two encounters. “He is as determined as me to win this fight. He is a tough fighter, and the professional experience should give him a bit of an advantage,” said Zou.
Original title by Shanghai Daily: Zou upbeat over 1st pro world title
Expert insight | New changes on UEFA EUROs: growing maturity of Hisense and other Chinese brands
22 Jul 2024 19:18
Related coverage
Meeting 2018 IBF Silk Road Champions Tournament in Thailand on Dec 8th
04 Dec 2018
Lander establishes strategic sports business partnership with Venetian
02 Jun 2015
2015 Boxing Fight of the Century TV Ratings Report
06 May 2015
361° sponsor WBA World Featherweight Champion XU Can
28 Jan 2019
Weekly report: soccer catches most attention
23 Sep 2015
More from Yutang Sports
The United States Tops Skema Publika's First Annual Sport and Soft Power Ranking
27 Mar 2025
SPORTACCORD confirms Istanbul as Host City for 2025 Convention
13 Mar 2025
When New tournaments Meets New Tech, the Old Friend of Football Has New Stories
14 Jul 2025
A turning point for global sport: IBA President Umar Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr join forces
30 Sep 2025
Hisense Named Official Partner of FIFA Club World Cup 2025
01 Nov 2024
Yutang Sports
loading...