Zou Shiming (simplified Chinese: 邹市明; traditional Chinese: 鄒市明; pinyin: Zōu Shìmíng; born 18 May 1981) is a Chinese professional boxer who is the current WBO International flyweight champion. Zou is known for being China's most successful amateur boxer of all time, winning three gold medals at the 2005, 2007 and 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, as well as three consecutive Olympic medals: bronze in 2004, gold in 2008 and gold in the 2012, all in the light flyweight division.
Top Rank, Bob Arum working with Freddie Roach to make a pro out of this great Amateur Boxer, 2 Olympic Gold MedalsTwo-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming needs to get offensive in U.S. debut
Lance Pugmire
Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko was able to use his status as a
two-time Olympic champion to advance his rapid-punching defensive
wizardry to the next level as a professional.
But for Zou Shiming of China, also a double gold medalist, turning pro has been more of a belly-flop.
Before Lomachenko attempts Saturday to become the first boxer to win a second division title in his first seven fights when he faces World Boxing Organization super-featherweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Zou (7-1, two knockouts) stages what could be a final chance at building a fan base outside of China.
Zou, 35, who fights Hungary’s Jozsef Ajtai before Lomachenko-Martinez at Madison Square Garden’s Theater, lost a unanimous decision in March 2015 in his first bid to win a world flyweight title. He needs a victory to be back in position for another shot.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” trainer Freddie Roach said Friday.
Roach wants Zou to be a more aggressive fighter and drop the lackluster technical style that won Olympic gold but won’t sell tickets in the U.S.
In a conversation last month at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Roach said it might be best for Zou to remain in China at resorts like the Venetian Macao, where he has the marketing push of a national hero.
But promoter Bob Arum is hopeful that with Roach’s ability to coax more offense from Zou, international interest will follow.
“It’s important that he looks good [Saturday] and he shoots on his punches more,” Roach said. “We’ve been working on getting him away from the amateur style.
“Now, we’re fighting an aggressive guy who will come forward at us. So this should be a good fight to show if the things [Zou] is doing in the gym can translate to a real fight.”
But for Zou Shiming of China, also a double gold medalist, turning pro has been more of a belly-flop.
Before Lomachenko attempts Saturday to become the first boxer to win a second division title in his first seven fights when he faces World Boxing Organization super-featherweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Zou (7-1, two knockouts) stages what could be a final chance at building a fan base outside of China.
Zou, 35, who fights Hungary’s Jozsef Ajtai before Lomachenko-Martinez at Madison Square Garden’s Theater, lost a unanimous decision in March 2015 in his first bid to win a world flyweight title. He needs a victory to be back in position for another shot.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” trainer Freddie Roach said Friday.
Roach wants Zou to be a more aggressive fighter and drop the lackluster technical style that won Olympic gold but won’t sell tickets in the U.S.
In a conversation last month at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Roach said it might be best for Zou to remain in China at resorts like the Venetian Macao, where he has the marketing push of a national hero.
But promoter Bob Arum is hopeful that with Roach’s ability to coax more offense from Zou, international interest will follow.
“It’s important that he looks good [Saturday] and he shoots on his punches more,” Roach said. “We’ve been working on getting him away from the amateur style.
“Now, we’re fighting an aggressive guy who will come forward at us. So this should be a good fight to show if the things [Zou] is doing in the gym can translate to a real fight.”
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© 2016, Los Angeles Times
Paul Silky Jones @PSilkyJones