ROACH WANTS ZOU SHIMING TO FIGHT LIKE A PRO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Jul 2013
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who said he expects two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming to fight for a world title within one or two years, has warned Zou to stop fighting like an amateur and to fight like a pro.
The South China Morning Post quoted Roach who said "He can't play to the crowd like he did last time (on April 6 in Macau). If you are going to do that, you really have to dominate your opponent. He didn't do that."
Roach who is training Zou for his second pro fight on July 27 in Macau noted that "When you do dominate your opponent, you can do a little talking and a little hands up and be a showman. Until he shows me that during a fight, I won't let him do that again."
Although Zou scored a unanimous-decision victory against little-known Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela in his debut he needs to do much more to win over the fans.
The Chinese three-time world amateur champion will have up to step up a notch when he clashes with Mexico?s Jesus Ortega (3-1, 2 KOs) in Fists of Gold II at the Venetian Cotai Arena this Saturday.
Zou himself accepted the criticism. He said "I believe these people want me to become a better fighter and I feel I didn't do as well as I should have last time. I thought long and hard after my fight in April. Yes, it was my first pro fight and it was a whole new experience for me. I wasn't used to the environment. I think I was overawed by it all, fighting in front of 15,000 passionate fans.?
He added, "I only fought four rounds but it felt like more. I remember asking my coach what round it was and he said it was round two. I didn't have any idea how many rounds were left. I was caught up in all the excitement and attention that I was getting."
Zou confessed that after the fight he ?spent days reading what other people were saying. Some praised me while others criticised me. It affected me."
He posed the question "Why should I feel disappointed? I won the fight. I felt my performance was all right and my team also thought it was a successful fight. You have to remember, I was an amateur for more than 10 years. I can't change my style or improve so much in the first few months of training. Yes, I reverted to the old Olympic style [of boxing], but believe me I will be better for my second bout."
Zou admitted "It's a big change for me because I have to fight harder and longer. I have even prepared myself for the unexpected such as being knocked down. Many professionals have had this experience, but they have come back to win. I have intensified my training. I am punching harder and my stamina has improved. "I have to keep reminding myself I am no longer an amateur. I am a professional."
Roach is confident Zou would make a bigger impression in his second professional fight. He said "We have got him back on track. He has improved in speed and strength. He just has to know when to use it. I didn't expect the crowd to get to him in his first fight. He didn't show me [in the ring] what he could do in the gym. It was his first fight and this happens.?
While making it clear he doesn?t have to rush the two-time Olympic gold medalist into a title fight Roach said "We are putting him on a bit of a fast track [towards a world title]. If he progresses the way he has progressed in the gym and he shows me that in the fight then we will go for a higher level."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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