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Relaxed Zou ready for ‘Express’
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ZOU Shiming describes himself as relaxed and ready for his maiden 12-round bout, and a sixth fight in his professional career, when the two-time Olympic champion takes on Thai Kwanpichit 13 Rien Express at The Venetian Macau on Sunday.
The flyweight bout will be the undercard for the main clash — Manny Pacquiao’s WBO world welterweight title defense against American scholar-fighter Chris Algieri, the undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion.
If Zou (5-0, 1 knockout) wins the fight at the Venetian Cotai Arena, he will get a chance to challenge IBF flyweight title holder Amnat Ruenroeng (14-0, 5 KOs), also of Thailand, in a fight set for February 14 in China’s Macau. It could be the first professional boxing title for China.
The 33-year-old turned professional about two years ago, and seems to have become accustomed to his new career.
“When I walked on the streets in the US, I got the obvious feeling that I am recognized,” the Guizhou Province native told media in Macau yesterday. Sporting a crisp new hairstyle, Zou said he was already used to the routines of a professional boxer, including facing large amount of media, and was trying to make himself look smart in front of the public.
“All the training over the past few months have filled me with confidence,” Zou said, talking about the Sunday fight. “I’ll take advantage of my speed, rhythm and flexibility.”
Zou said he had been doing up to two hours of training every day to prepare for the bout. The left-eye injury he picked up during a previous training regime didn’t seem to be a bother. “It will be a battle both physically and mentally,” Zou commented on his unbeaten opponent, who is of the same age.
The Chinese boxer said his coach Freddie Roach was happy with his preparations, though the Hall of Famer has been spent much of his time working with Pacquiao for the Filipino’s clash.
Kwanpichit (27-0-2, 12 KOs), nicknamed “little Pacquiao” back in Thailand because of his looks and style, said he would try to knockout Zou though he admitted his movements are much slower than his opponent’s. It would be the Thai’s first fight outside his country.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the big star of the weekend boxing bonanza in Macau, claimed that he had rediscovered his long lost aggressiveness that disappeared for almost five years as the Filipino looked ahead to his bout against Algieri, (20-0, 9 KOs). The American has been predicting “a shock to the world”.
“I’m not predicting a knockout, but I’m looking for a good fight, looking to prove I can still fight,” said Pacquiao, who will turn 36 next month. The Filipino congressman has reportedly ferried near 300 followers to Macau using two planes, while his six years’ younger opponent has the support of his parents, who are in Macau but will not watch the fight.
“We’ve never dared to watch his fights,” Adriana Algieri, the former kickboxer’s mother, told Shanghai Daily. “His father and I will stay in the hotel and pray. We are very proud of our son, and just hope he doesn’t get injured.”
WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1, 1 KO) and WBA super lightweight champion Jessie Vargas (25-0, 9 KOs) will each defend their titles against Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (52-1, 33 KOs) of Thailand and Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco (31-3-1, 23 KOs), respectively.
Chinese boxers Qu Peng, Kuok Kun Ng (Wu Guoquan), and Rex Tso of China’s Hong Kong will also present their skills on Sunday morning.
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