Back to reality as Chinese boxer Zou Shiming wraps up hit TV show to continue world title bid in Macau
Two-time Olympic gold medallist has been starring in 'Dad, Where Are We Going' on Hunan TV
Chinese star Zou Shiming will return to “reality” and resume training as he continues to embark on his mission of one day winning a world title.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist will climb back into the ring in Macau in November, but don’t expect fireworks this time as the 34-year-old Guizhou native will fight in a non-title bout.
The November 28 fight, which is being finalised by co-promoters Top Rank and Venetian Macao, will be Zou’s first fight since losing a unanimous decision against Amnat Ruenroeng for the Thai’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) world flyweight title six months ago.
Since then, Zou has been busy – outside the ring.
The 2008 Beijing and 2010 London Games gold medallist is wrapping up filming a reality show for Hunan Television, which has been a huge hit on the mainland.
Where Are We Going, Dad? attracts an audience of up to 75 million and features five fathers with their sons travelling to China’s rural places.
Zou has starred with four-year-old son, Eros, making him even more of a household name. He also made a cameo in Hollywood blockbuster Transformers 4: Age of Extinction last year. But manager Edmund Chu insists that Zou’s goal has not changed and that he still aims to become world champion.
“He’s finishing filming with his reality show at the moment. After this he will probably get back to training and he will fight at the end of November,” said Chu
“We don’t know his opponent at the moment. This has to be finalised. The goal for Shiming is to become a world champion one day.
“The plan is to have him fight in a non-title fight. Since he last fought, he has taken a bit of a rest. It was a pretty taxing fight [against Amnat]. He’s been training consistently and constantly even though he’s busy with so many different things. Training and staying in shape and getting ready for fights have always been a huge part of his life.”
WATCH: The most recent episode of 'Baba qu nali?'
Chu said Zou remained determined to lift the world title even though his loss to Amnat had limited his options but he remains healthy with no injury concerns.
“I don’t think any title fight is ever going to be easy to be honest. They are world champions for a reason. Whenever you go into a world title fight, it’s going to be a very difficult fight. You don’t take any of your opponents for granted,” he said.
“Shiming is in good shape. Every boxer has wear and tear on them because it’s such a physical sport. He looks good. I saw him last week and he looks really good.”
