ZOU SHIMING BATTLES SANTANA FOR WBO INTL. TITLE JAN.30
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 29 Jan 2016
SHANGHAI, CHINA - There will a boxing marathon of sorts this Saturday at the Oriental Sports Center here in Shanghai. Three professional fight cards starting from ten in the morning with a double bill from the League of Fists tournament and capped by the Return of the King - two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world title challenger Zou Shiming (6W-1L,1KO) of China, who is pitted against Natan Santana (12W-0L,10KO?s) of Brazil for the vacant WBO International flyweight title.
This is Zou's first appearance since losing his world title challenge against IBF flyweight champ Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand by unanimous decision in Macau last March 7,2015. Santana, who is fighting out of Brazil for the first time, aims to show that his KO percentage is for real.
"I know Zou is an idol here, but I come to take this belt. I will add another number to my knockout record," Santana said during the press conference held Friday at the Marriot Hotel Luwan.
"I am back," Zou for his part stated, "I am not going back to the Olympics but I am fighting an opponent from Brazil, so it is one way of getting a trip back to the Olympics."
"After winning in the Olympics, I never thought I would fight again, but, here I am, "Zou added, "Every day I wake up and wonder what I will do for the rest of the day. But, if boxing is not part of my day, I feel lost."
Zou ended his statements with a promise of a victory.
Zou weighed in at 111.1 lbs while Santana stepped on the scales at 111.4lbs during the official weigh-in held after the press conference.
Set to fight on the undercards will be Ryota Murata of Japan, who is a middleweight gold medalist in the 2012 Olympics, and he will face Gaston Vega of Argentina.
Also penned on the undercards are Zulpikar Maimaitali (China) vs Steve Moxon (Australia), Ma Yi Ming (China) vs Jay-ar Diama (Philippines), Aaron Lai (Australia) vs Qu Peng (China), Andrey Kalyuzhny, a Russian based in China, vs Abdallah Paziwapazi (Tanzania) Dong Chaoqun vs Asaidula Musham, both form China, Joseph Omana (Jomanz Omanz) of the Philippines vs Liu Qiang and Marjo Borres (Philippines) vs Mai Qing Xian (China).
The two League of Fists morning fight cards will have ten four round bouts each.
The evening event - the Return of the King is set to start at 6:30PM.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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