Local boxing fans meet IBF champion Ruenroeng

The headline boxer Amnat Ruenroeng has arrived in Macau for Saturday’s multi-bout boxing event, the Showdown at Sands at the Cotai Arena. The world champion met with local young boxing enthusiasts from Fighting Arts Club Macau at the club’s gym yesterday, telling them that anyone can be a champion with enough practice and self-discipline.
About forty boxing fans joined the meeting, where they asked about Ruenroeng’s preparation for the upcoming matchup with Zou Shiming, his athletic pursuits and his advice for young boxers. The fans also saw some of his boxing skills in action in a demonstration.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) world flyweight titleholder said he is confident of retaining the belt and taking it back to Thailand. When asked to compare Zou’s style with his, he commented that Zou fights more in an amateur rules style rather than the more aggressive approach used in the professional ring.
A coach of the club, Jet Wu, was excited to meet with the champion, although he is a fan of Zou Shiming’s. “I’ve met both Zou and Ruenroeng a long time ago when I fought in the King’s Cup in Thailand. Both of them have changed a lot in their fighting styles, and I don’t agree that Zou fights in an amateur style.”
“This bout is going to a matchup between speed and power. They are very well matched and we’ll see if Zou’s speed will win out over Ruenroeng’s strength or the other way around,” he commented.
The young boxers were clearly impressed to meet a world champion and reveled in the event. Ruenroeng was presented with some Thai-style flower rings representing good luck and blessings, and engaged in a question and answer session with the group.
“It was fantastic to meet a world champion,” said one of the participants. “It is inspiring to hear about his life and how he overcame difficulties to get to where he is today. It has given me more confidence and the desire and motivation to follow my dreams.”
“The problem in local boxing is that we don’t have many opponents here. After training and fighting for a while, you have to go outside to train and fight with more boxers,” said Jet Wu.
“It’s very encouraging for the young boxers in Macau that they can see world-class fights in their hometown. Watching the top boxers fight, now they have a clear goal,” he added.