Lack of preparation against an opponent with an "awkward style" was the reason Zou Shiming missed his first professional world title, according to his Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach even as Zou's managing company reiterated its faith in China's best known boxer.

"I didn't see this coming. The team didn't get ready for lots of things that came tonight," Roach said in a post-bout press conference in China's Macau on Saturday night.

Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng retained his IBF flyweight title with a unanimous points victory over China's two-time Olympic champion at Cotai Arena earlier.

The undefeated Thai was content to box at a distance for much of the fight and despite being knocked down in the second round coasted home 116-111 on all three judges' scorecards as Zou struggled to land many clean punches.

"To be able to stand in this ring itself proved that both of us are winners," said the 33-year-old Guizhou Province native, seeming to handle the first defeat of his professional career well. "This is boxing, and this is life. Today I failed, but I will start all over again, never mind."

Zou said lack of experience, rather than shortcomings in technique, was the reason he lost to his Thai counterpart, whom he had beaten twice in their previous three clashes during the amateur era.

"There is nothing called failure in my life. One should shoulder the responsibility no matter what the result, that's also what I want my son to learn from my experience," Zou emphasized.

"It was a close fight," Roach added. "I didn't think we lost the fight, but after hearing what Zou said, I don't want to comment more on the result. We will go back to the gym, work harder, and help Zou to become a more complete fighter so he can face up to all kinds of opponents."

The American, who left Macau yesterday itself, had spared some time for Zou amid a more important task on hand — preparing Manny Pacquiao for the megafight against Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas on May 2.

According to Roach, Zou put into practice whatever he had been told in the first few rounds. "Facing an opponent like this, who had his own certain way, Zou could not use his combinations, as he (Amnat) jumped away after every single punch. Amnat played differently from the way we knew about when studying his videos during preparation. He (Amnat) almost had his leg around his opponent's neck twice during the fight. Whoever fights him next, good luck!" said Roach.

The world title bout was Zou's seventh professional contest since he turned professional one year and 11 months ago. It was also his second 12-round bout.

"The defeat should not be considered a loss for the company. In sports, one can't expect to win every time," said Li Sheng, CEO of Zou's managing company SECA. Li described Zou's story of turning professional from an amateur boxer brought up in the national sports system as a "live show of a boxer".

"This is the end of episode one. A victory could have given it a happy ending, however, I bet people are still interested in the live show and will continue to follow episode two."

Indeed, Zou is still by far SECA's best choice if it wants to build a boxing market in China and replicate the Yao Ming and NBA success story.

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