Two-time Olympic champion Zou Shiming says that he is aiming for the top, ahead of his professional debut next month, as he bids to become China’s first boxer to make it big on the world stage.
The nimble Zou, light flyweight gold medalist at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, begins his quest for world domination in Macau on April 6 against the little-known Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela.
Zou, a three-time amateur world champion, is well known in his homeland, where boxing was banned under Mao Zedong. Now he hopes to extend his reputation to a global audience and put China on the map as a force in the sport.
Photo: Reuters
“It’s always been a dream of mine to become a professional boxer, now that I have this opportunity, I want to see if I can become a world champion, that is the goal that I hope to achieve,” he told Agence France-Presse in an exclusive interview.
Zou has signed with Bob Arum’s Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotions and been training under the celebrated Freddie Roach. Roach has drawn comparisons between Zou and another brilliant Asian, the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao.
“Freddie has been incredible, he has made the transition from amateur to professional very easy and I love working with him,” Zou said in e-mailed remarks.
“That is a great compliment,” he said of the comparisons to Pacquiao. “However, I am just starting my professional career and Manny is a world champion many times over. I hope to one day be on that same stage, but I need to improve and work as hard as I can.”
Zou, who has been training in the US in the build-up to his highly anticipated professional debut, explained the reason for his move to turn pro at the relatively late age of 31.
“I decided to stay another four years and compete in the London Olympic Games as an amateur. Now I am looking forward to becoming a professional fighter,” he said.
And what would he reply to people who say he left it too long?
“It’s never too late to follow your dreams,” he said.
Standing at 1.65m, Zou, who is from Guizhou, southern China, appears to have impressed Roach, who has worked with some of the best in the business.
“He picks things up very quickly and I think he’ll be champion in a short time. I told Bob [Arum] that within a year, this guy will be the world champion,” Roach said. “I know that’s a fast track, but with his amateur experience, I think that we can go that way.”
Zou, who is known for his fast hands and fast footwork, says that he hopes to inspire a generation of Chinese boxers.
“Boxing is developing [there] and more and more people are becoming fans of the sport, so that is great to see,” he said. “I hope that more and more people can enjoy the sport of boxing, and if my performance helps to grow the sport, then that makes me happy.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just