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March 7, 2015

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Confident Zou hopes to achieve his dream

CHINA’S Zou Shiming is chasing a lifelong dream and expects to be crowned world champion tonight. But to achieve that he will have get past the solid Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand.

Zou beat Amnat twice in their three meetings during their lengthy amateur careers. Amnat, who has impressive reach for a smaller fighter, didn’t turn pro until relatively late, to win the vacant 51-kilogram title in January 2014.

Both fighters made the 112lb flyweight limit while promising an explosive 12-round contest between the two undefeated men at the famed Cotai Arena in Macau tonight.

“My body is in good shape,” said challenger Zou, who turns 34 in May. The Chinese Olympic double champion tipped the scales at 111.6lb. “I hope to perform well. I expect Amnat to put on a great show for all the fans tonight.”

Zou (6-0, 1 KO) realizes he is in for easily the most difficult test of his short pro career for which he is being prepared for by the Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

As he walked the corridors of the hotel where the fight will be held, Zou was easily recognized and cheered by the fans and visitors. He smiled and waved back and looked relaxed. He exuded confidence and said he would add the professional world title to his three amateur global crowns and two Olympic gold medals. “This is my dream and also the dream of all the boxers in China,” Zou said.

Every time he steps into the ring, he knows he’s representing his country.

“I stepped into the ring with a flag on my back, and I have Chinese people on my back,” Zou said. “No matter if it’s in the Olympics or in the pro arena, as long as I stand in a ring — anywhere in the world — I stand as a Chinese,” he said.

Amnat has 14 professional wins on his unblemished record with five knockouts and has already defended the IBF flyweight belt twice. The Thai weighed in exactly on the 112lb flyweight limit and added: “I would like to confirm that I will bring the IBF belt back to Thailand because my family came here to support me,” he said.

But he promised a classic bout. “We will put on the best fight,” he said.

Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler said that Zou had a high level of intelligence in the ring and a great personality. His performances so far has surpassed expectations, and “maybe we can look forward to some surprise on Saturday.”

Roach told AFP that Zou was “punching a lot better and developed more power.”

“But I want him more defensive. I think he gave up too much for going on the offensive and he’s gotten hit a little bit too much in previous fights.

“So we’ve been working on putting both those aspects together for this fight. He won’t sit in the pocket too long anymore and let the other guy fire back at him. This fight will be: score, get out.”

Zou, the first Chinese boxer to win an Olympic gold, could become the second Chinese fighter to hold a world title. Xiong Zhaozhong achieved that before him, winning the 48-kg title three years ago, but lost it in February last year.




 

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