The much-anticipated first world title fight of China’s star boxer Zou Shiming is set to take the stage in Macau’s Cotai Arena on March 7. The flag-bearer for Chinese boxing announced his challenge yesterday against the current International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng.
“From my first professional fight, I’ve finally made it here,” said Zou after the announcement made in Shanghai. “From the surface it looks like just one step away from the world title, but behind this shot there’ve been 10,000 steps of efforts I made that people can’t see.”
In his brief professional career since April 2013, the former Olympic gold medalist has won all six bouts and captured the WBO International Flyweight champion belt this July. His first world title attempt will be the headline of “The Showdown at Sands” multi-bout event promoted by Top Rank and Sands China.
“We’ve seen his improvement from fight to fight; he’s become a fighter who could really challenge for the world title. I think to be fair, he’s exceeded far even the highest of any of our expectations,” commented Top Rank CEO Bob Arum at the press conference.
“It will be a memorable, memorable night for Chinese boxing as Zou attempts to win the world title from a very, very, very good Thai champion,” he added.
The two rivals revealed a close friendship at the press conference, telling the media that they’ve known each other as good friends since their first confrontation at the 2007 King’s Cup in Thailand.
“He was one of the targeting opponents I had on the Olympics, as we were both in the top three. He turned pro way earlier than me; now I’ve finally caught up with him to have this opportunity to challenge him,” Zou told the media, “he is the best opponent that I could choose to face off at the moment. After I win this fight, next year, I’ll challenge for both the WBA and WBO titles.”
When Zou Shiming carried on in amateur boxing to win another gold medal for his motherland in 2012, Ruenroeng turned professional. Beginning with a victory to win the vacant belt he now wears, Ruenroeng wrapped up a highly successful 2014 where he defended his title twice by two hard-fought split-decisions.
The Thai boxing sensation overcame a troubled past to reach the pinnacle of his division. Beating a drug addiction and enduring three prison terms, Ruenroeng found his salvation through a prison boxing program that saw him become a national amateur champion while still an inmate.
The two boxers had fought three times as amateurs, with Zou winning twice and Ruenroeng winning once. However, the Thai champion has never been convinced by the referees’ ruling of his defeat to Zou at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
“I don’t think I lost and I’m very confident to win this fight. He fought well on the Olympics, but for pro fights, I am the champion in the ring,” he stressed, adding that he has no concern if referees show favoritism for the home boxer in the upcoming Macau fight.
The champion acknowledged that Zou has shown a better speed since he turned pro, but was not willing to comment on his own advantages or Zou’s disadvantages. “I don’t want to give any references to my opponent. I wish everyone to come to see themselves how I will win the fight,” he responded.
“We actually have similar fighting styles, as we were both defense-prioritized to win the three-round Olympic bouts. That’s too short to show all our capacity; but during the 12 rounder, there will be three to four rounds where my opponent will bring out all he has got,” Zou told the Times. “I need to watch his fight footages and try to find his flaws in order to win this fight.”
In addition to the Zou vs Ruenroeng bout, four of the other fights on the card will feature Chinese boxers. “We will have the schedule out soon. Then we will do three international fights with fighters from United States, Argentina, and the Philippines,” Mr Arum revealed.
“Sports fans have witnessed the debut and meteoric rise of Zou Shiming’s professional career at the Cotai Arena. These boxing events have cast an international spotlight on Zou Shiming, but also on several other vey talented Chinese boxers. We’re pleased that these events have been helping the development of boxing and boxers in China,” added Ciarán Carruthers, senior vice president and director of Venetian and Plaza Operations for Sands China.
* The reporter was in Shanghai at the invitation of The Venetian Macao
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