Zou Shiming’s second professional fight was the main event of “Fists of Gold II” in Macau on Saturday night and the Chinese flyweight put in a much more entertaining performance to win a six-round fight against unheralded Mexican Jesus Ortega.
The expectations for the former amateur world champion are intense and he gave the Chinese fans in attendance at the Cotai Arena something to cheer about by employing a much more aggressive approach than we saw when he made his professional debut earlier this year.
It made for some exciting exchanges as Ortega, who seemed determined to make the most of his unexpected opportunity, stood his ground and took Shiming’s hardest shots, but was ultimately no match for the best amateur in the history of Chinese boxing.
Photo: AFP
Shiming was awarded the win by unanimous decision and improves to 2-0, but speaking after the fight, the 32 year old was typically humble.
“I’m pleased with the win, but my goal is to become a new champion and I know there are many new challenges I need to face, but I will work even harder toward that goal,” he said.
His trainer, Freddie Roach, was a little more emphatic in praise of his protege’s second professional outing and believes that he showed significant signs of improvement.
Photo: Chris Farina / Top Rank
“He did a lot better than the last time out, it’s his second pro fight and I’m very proud of him. Everything has to come quicker [because] he is a two-time gold medalist and everyone knows that. It’s difficult to find 112 pounders who want to fight him,” Roach said.
The Hall of Fame trainer did have some criticism and is looking forward to working with Shiming in the Philippines in preparation for his third professional fight, which is set for Macau on Nov. 24.
“He stayed in front of him a little too much. I would have liked to see him land combinations and get out of the pocket, but the training camp with Manny Pacquiao will be a big lesson to Shiming, he’s going to see what it takes to be a world champion when he’s in camp with us,” Roach said
Photo: Reuters
The co-main event featured Juan Francisco Estrada, who caused a major upset by beating Brian Viloria at the inaugural “Fists of Gold” show, and was making the first defense of the two titles he won that night against undefeated Filipino Milan Melindo.
Melindo took to his task methodically and seemed to be getting the better of some close early rounds as Estrada was extremely conservative in his punch output. The turning point arrived in the 11th, when the Filipino was put down for the count by a short cross that connected clean.
Estrada came on very strong in the final stanza and very nearly scored another knockdown, when Melindo’s knee was perilously close to touching the canvas. The Mexican finished the round in dominant fashion with his opponent visibly hurt, but still bobbing and weaving enough to stay out of trouble until the bell.
Melindo’s early superiority made for some suspense as the scorecards were being compiled, but the judges all voted emphatically for Estrada, seeing it 118-109, 117-109 and 118-109 in favor of the Mexican retaining his WBO flyweight and WBA Super World flyweight belts.
Billed as “The Russian Mexican,” Evgeny Gradovich inflicted a brutal one-sided beatdown on Mauricio Munoz, who was dominated from start to finish and had no answer for the relentless combinations of his tireless opponent.
By the end of the fight, Munoz’s face was bruised and swollen as the Argentine fought bravely, but was comprehensively outclassed by Gradovich, who kept firing away with crisp combinations that more often than not found their target.
The only thing missing for Gradovich was the finish. He was able to drive Munoz back against the ropes a few times, but the resilient Argentine refused to go down. The scorecard reflected the Russian’s superiority as he retained his IBF featherweight belt by margins of 119-109,119-109 and 120-108.
Earlier in the night, Andy Ruiz Jr defeated Joe Hanks in a battle of undefeated heavyweights, scoring two knockdowns in the fourth round to successfully defend his WBO intercontinental title.
Top Rank’s next card at the Cotai Arena sees Manny Pacquaio take on Brandon Rios on Nov. 24 in an eagerly awaited welterweight matchup that will be the Filipino’s first fight on Asian soil since 2006.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care