Zou dreams big before professional debut
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 27, 2013
Two-time Olympic champion Zou Shiming says he is aiming for the top, ahead of his professional debut next month, as he bids to become China's first boxer to make it big on the world stage.
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Zou trains with Freddie Roach. |
The nimble Zou, light flyweight gold medalist at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, begins his quest for world domination in China's Macau on April 6 against the little-known Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela.
Zou, a three-time amateur world champion, is well known in his homeland. Now he hopes to extend his reputation to a global audience and put China on the map as a force in the sport.
"It's always been a dream of mine to become a professional boxer, now that I have this opportunity, I want to see if I can become a world champion, that is the goal that I hope to achieve," he said in an exclusive interview.
Zou has signed with Bob Arum's Las Vegas-based Top Rank promotions and been training under the celebrated Freddie Roach. Roach has drawn comparisons between Zou and another brilliant Asian, the Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
"Freddie has been incredible, he has made the transition from amateur to professional very easy and I love working with him," Zou said in emailed remarks.
"That is a great compliment," he said of the comparisons to Pacquiao, "however, I am just starting my professional career and Manny is a world champion many times over.
"I hope to one day be on that same stage but I need to improve and work as hard as I can."
Zou, who has been training in the United States in the build-up to his highly anticipated professional debut, explained the reason for his move to turn pro at the relatively late age of 31.
"I decided to stay another four years and compete in the London Olympic Games as an amateur.
"Now I'm looking forward to becoming a professional fighter."
And what would he reply to people who say he left it too long?
"It's never too late to follow your dreams."
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