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China’s two-time Olympic gold medal boxer Zou Shiming announced his arrival in the professional boxing ranks with an unanimous victory against Mexico’s Eleazar Valenzuela on April 6.
Zou’s high-profile flyweight professional debut was the centerpiece of the Fists of Gold boxing spectacular at the Venetian Cotai Arena in Macao. His victory over little-known Mexican fighter Valenzuela on points might signal the beginning of a journey to becoming a contender for a professional title.
A crowd of 15，000 filled the arena and millions more watched the action live across China.
“As big a night as it was for me， it was an even bigger night for boxing in China，” Zou said after the event. “My goal is to shine as a bright light on the sport in my country as I can and to help advance its development here for amateurs and professionals alike.”
Going pro
For Zou， the victory of the night represents a peachy beginning to his professional career， although his performance was not impeccable in the four-round contest.
Zou dominated the 395th-ranked Valenzuela with big shots for the whole fight， but wasn’t able to knock down or knock out the tough 18-year-old Mexican fighter. Zou’s defense was intermittently successful， part of his transition from the amateur game to a pro style.
Zou gave himself a score of 70 percent but was confident he would improve as a fighter.
“I’m lacking a bit in experience and stamina. I really wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. I hope I delivered，” said Zou， who earned$300，000 for winning his first professional fight.
“It was a great fight for him. There’s something very different between amateur and professional fights，” said Freddie Roach， a Boxing Hall of Fame trainer who coached Zou for his professional debut.
No Chinese boxer has been as successful as Zou in the amateur ranks. In 2004， Zou became China’s first Olympic boxing medalist in Athens， Greece， winning bronze. In 2008， fighting in front of the home crowd in Beijing， Zou won the country’s first gold medal in the sport. He won gold again in London， four years later， cementing his legendary status in China.
In January of this year， Zou， 31， turned professional after signing with Bob Arum’s Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotions， where he was teamed with Roach， trainer of 31 world champions including flyweight title holder Brian Viloria and Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“From day one， Zou impressed me when he sparred with Brian. Brian had the upper hand on the first day， but Zou gradually matched Brian. I know Brian very well because I used to train him，” said the 53-year-old Roach. Meanwhile， Roach suggested that Zou change his style and iron out some kinks in his game if he is going to be more effective as a professional fighter.
“We are working on changing his style a bit，”Roach said. “He won the debut fight on points， and that doesn’t really cut it in the professional game. People want to see knockouts. That’s why Pacquiao was so successful， because he knocked all his guys out.”
Nonetheless， Roach was adamant that Zou could also develop into a knockout artist.
“He has power in both hands. He hits very hard. He can be a knockout artist， because he shows that in the gym. After a few fights， he will settle down，” Roach said.
Roach was slightly concerned that Zou tended to drop his guard， reverting to his amateur days.
“In certain situations it works for him，” explained Roach of Zou’s unusual approach. “We knew we were faster than Valenzuela and that when he threw a punch， Zou could slip in and counter punch easily.”
Roach added that Zou also needed to be more accurate with his punches. “He has really turned into a great puncher in the gym， and we just have to transfer that to the fight，” said the American coach. “He was a bit long with his right hand and hitting it a bit high and not really landing it on the chin. If he had landed his punches on Valenzuela’s chin， there’s no question it would have been a knockout.”
“Overall， it wasn’t bad for his first fight. I expect him to get better， because in the gym he’s great. It’s just a matter of time before he carries that over into the fight，” Roach said. “I believe we have a future world champion on our hands，” he added.
This was echoed by promoter Dino Duva of the legendary Duva family， who spent time training Zou prior to the London Olympics. “I think Zou still needs to get out of some of his amateur style and habits， but it’s only his first fight. He’s a great student of the game and a very hard worker. I’m sure he’ll be fine within a few fights，” Duva said.
And Zou probably won’t have to wait long， as Arum already has plans to put China’s most recognizable boxer in a world title fight within the year. Currently， Top Rank is in discussions about another show at the Venetian Macao in August with Zou headlining in a six-round bout.
Aside from the possible glory that awaits Zou as he is fast-tracked toward a world title shot， Duva also spoke of how this will affect China’s boxing scene in general.
“I thought it was a great way to kick off the Chinese professional boxing industry and great for boxing in general，” Duva said. “I am really excited about all of this because with the great buzz going now， my fighters will cause a great splash when they turn professional. And they will have a much more fan-pleasing professional style than Zou.” “China is a country of 1.3 billion people and is a country that’s emerging economically to be a real super power. I think if it’s done right， China will be the premier audience for the sport of boxing in the world，” Arum said.
A slim dream
Although insiders hope that Zou will be like golden hurdler Liu Xiang， tennis star Li Na and basketball legend Yao Ming to shed light on his sport in China， the reality is still hard to predict. Even today， boxing is still considered rough and brutal by most Chinese.
China banned boxing in the 1950s. The ban was lifted in 1986. In 1987， the International Amateur Boxing Association （AIBA） admitted the China Boxing Association， founded the same year.
However， restrictions on prizefighting have yet to be loosened on the mainland. Fighters who attend professional competitions are disqualified from subsequent amateur events and national or Olympic competitions.
In 2008， when Zou expressed his intention to turn professional after winning his first gold medal， sports officials quoting the rigid provision suggested that he put aside the idea of turning professional to concentrate on the next Olympics.
Meanwhile， there is no professional boxing association in China. According to the Boxing and Taekwondo Administrative Center （BTAC）， the top governing body of boxing in the country under General Administration of Sport， the BTAC is not responsible for promoting professional careers.
Last year， a World Boxing Organization event in Tianjin was called off by the BTAC after over two years running， taking a stand not to favor any professional event.
Sports officials allegedly feared that the event would make them look bad in front of AIBA， which is set to host its own professional matches where contestants would retain Olympic eligibility this year. Chinese sports leaders are unsure about the idea being implemented in China.
“After so many years as a promoter and organizer， I still have no idea who to talk with to get an event sanctioned，” said Liu Gang， owner of Zovi Boxing in Kunming， southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
Born in 1972， Liu was among the first group of amateur boxers trained in the national team when the country embraced the sport.
Liu’s career as an amateur boxer culminated when he won silver in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. After the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona， Liu moved to Australia to pursue his dreams in professional boxing. In 2003， Liu sold his house and returned to China to found the Zovi Club， training boxers and organizing fights at the same time.
Promoted by Liu， Xiong Chaozhong， a professional boxer from Yunnan， and， like Zou， an ethnic Miao， made history in becoming the first Chinese to win a world title in November last year.
“I hope the government can allow some professional boxing events into the country to boost the sport，” Liu said.
Liu believes that a stimulus is needed to push the government toward opening up to professional boxing， and Zou is just that stimulus.
“Only Zou can advance professional boxing in China，” Liu said.
Zou’s high-profile flyweight professional debut was the centerpiece of the Fists of Gold boxing spectacular at the Venetian Cotai Arena in Macao. His victory over little-known Mexican fighter Valenzuela on points might signal the beginning of a journey to becoming a contender for a professional title.
A crowd of 15，000 filled the arena and millions more watched the action live across China.
“As big a night as it was for me， it was an even bigger night for boxing in China，” Zou said after the event. “My goal is to shine as a bright light on the sport in my country as I can and to help advance its development here for amateurs and professionals alike.”
Going pro
For Zou， the victory of the night represents a peachy beginning to his professional career， although his performance was not impeccable in the four-round contest.
Zou dominated the 395th-ranked Valenzuela with big shots for the whole fight， but wasn’t able to knock down or knock out the tough 18-year-old Mexican fighter. Zou’s defense was intermittently successful， part of his transition from the amateur game to a pro style.
Zou gave himself a score of 70 percent but was confident he would improve as a fighter.
“I’m lacking a bit in experience and stamina. I really wanted to put on a good show for the crowd. I hope I delivered，” said Zou， who earned$300，000 for winning his first professional fight.
“It was a great fight for him. There’s something very different between amateur and professional fights，” said Freddie Roach， a Boxing Hall of Fame trainer who coached Zou for his professional debut.
No Chinese boxer has been as successful as Zou in the amateur ranks. In 2004， Zou became China’s first Olympic boxing medalist in Athens， Greece， winning bronze. In 2008， fighting in front of the home crowd in Beijing， Zou won the country’s first gold medal in the sport. He won gold again in London， four years later， cementing his legendary status in China.
In January of this year， Zou， 31， turned professional after signing with Bob Arum’s Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotions， where he was teamed with Roach， trainer of 31 world champions including flyweight title holder Brian Viloria and Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“From day one， Zou impressed me when he sparred with Brian. Brian had the upper hand on the first day， but Zou gradually matched Brian. I know Brian very well because I used to train him，” said the 53-year-old Roach. Meanwhile， Roach suggested that Zou change his style and iron out some kinks in his game if he is going to be more effective as a professional fighter.
“We are working on changing his style a bit，”Roach said. “He won the debut fight on points， and that doesn’t really cut it in the professional game. People want to see knockouts. That’s why Pacquiao was so successful， because he knocked all his guys out.”
Nonetheless， Roach was adamant that Zou could also develop into a knockout artist.
“He has power in both hands. He hits very hard. He can be a knockout artist， because he shows that in the gym. After a few fights， he will settle down，” Roach said.
Roach was slightly concerned that Zou tended to drop his guard， reverting to his amateur days.
“In certain situations it works for him，” explained Roach of Zou’s unusual approach. “We knew we were faster than Valenzuela and that when he threw a punch， Zou could slip in and counter punch easily.”
Roach added that Zou also needed to be more accurate with his punches. “He has really turned into a great puncher in the gym， and we just have to transfer that to the fight，” said the American coach. “He was a bit long with his right hand and hitting it a bit high and not really landing it on the chin. If he had landed his punches on Valenzuela’s chin， there’s no question it would have been a knockout.”
“Overall， it wasn’t bad for his first fight. I expect him to get better， because in the gym he’s great. It’s just a matter of time before he carries that over into the fight，” Roach said. “I believe we have a future world champion on our hands，” he added.
This was echoed by promoter Dino Duva of the legendary Duva family， who spent time training Zou prior to the London Olympics. “I think Zou still needs to get out of some of his amateur style and habits， but it’s only his first fight. He’s a great student of the game and a very hard worker. I’m sure he’ll be fine within a few fights，” Duva said.
And Zou probably won’t have to wait long， as Arum already has plans to put China’s most recognizable boxer in a world title fight within the year. Currently， Top Rank is in discussions about another show at the Venetian Macao in August with Zou headlining in a six-round bout.
Aside from the possible glory that awaits Zou as he is fast-tracked toward a world title shot， Duva also spoke of how this will affect China’s boxing scene in general.
“I thought it was a great way to kick off the Chinese professional boxing industry and great for boxing in general，” Duva said. “I am really excited about all of this because with the great buzz going now， my fighters will cause a great splash when they turn professional. And they will have a much more fan-pleasing professional style than Zou.” “China is a country of 1.3 billion people and is a country that’s emerging economically to be a real super power. I think if it’s done right， China will be the premier audience for the sport of boxing in the world，” Arum said.
A slim dream
Although insiders hope that Zou will be like golden hurdler Liu Xiang， tennis star Li Na and basketball legend Yao Ming to shed light on his sport in China， the reality is still hard to predict. Even today， boxing is still considered rough and brutal by most Chinese.
China banned boxing in the 1950s. The ban was lifted in 1986. In 1987， the International Amateur Boxing Association （AIBA） admitted the China Boxing Association， founded the same year.
However， restrictions on prizefighting have yet to be loosened on the mainland. Fighters who attend professional competitions are disqualified from subsequent amateur events and national or Olympic competitions.
In 2008， when Zou expressed his intention to turn professional after winning his first gold medal， sports officials quoting the rigid provision suggested that he put aside the idea of turning professional to concentrate on the next Olympics.
Meanwhile， there is no professional boxing association in China. According to the Boxing and Taekwondo Administrative Center （BTAC）， the top governing body of boxing in the country under General Administration of Sport， the BTAC is not responsible for promoting professional careers.
Last year， a World Boxing Organization event in Tianjin was called off by the BTAC after over two years running， taking a stand not to favor any professional event.
Sports officials allegedly feared that the event would make them look bad in front of AIBA， which is set to host its own professional matches where contestants would retain Olympic eligibility this year. Chinese sports leaders are unsure about the idea being implemented in China.
“After so many years as a promoter and organizer， I still have no idea who to talk with to get an event sanctioned，” said Liu Gang， owner of Zovi Boxing in Kunming， southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
Born in 1972， Liu was among the first group of amateur boxers trained in the national team when the country embraced the sport.
Liu’s career as an amateur boxer culminated when he won silver in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. After the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona， Liu moved to Australia to pursue his dreams in professional boxing. In 2003， Liu sold his house and returned to China to found the Zovi Club， training boxers and organizing fights at the same time.
Promoted by Liu， Xiong Chaozhong， a professional boxer from Yunnan， and， like Zou， an ethnic Miao， made history in becoming the first Chinese to win a world title in November last year.
“I hope the government can allow some professional boxing events into the country to boost the sport，” Liu said.
Liu believes that a stimulus is needed to push the government toward opening up to professional boxing， and Zou is just that stimulus.
“Only Zou can advance professional boxing in China，” Liu said.