Freddie Roach on a mission to make defeated Zou Shiming a world champion
Top trainer vows to work more with Chinese fighter after a first professional defeat shows Guizhou-native needs to improve markedly
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has vowed to turn Zou Shiming into a "complete fighter" after his protégé suffered a major setback by losing his first world title fight on Saturday - but he knows it will require work.
The Zou camp are reeling from the shock of the two-time Chinese Olympic gold medallist's defeat for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world flyweight title in his seventh pro fight at the Cotai Arena.
And they know the Chinese star will have to improve out of sight if he is to earn another world title shot.
We need to work harder and win next time. We have to go back into the gym and make Shiming a more complete fighter
Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng, who despite hitting the canvas in the second round for a standing eight count, proved a hard nut to crack for Zou, who lost a unanimous decision in an anti-climactic end to the Showdown at Sands bill. It was the fourth meeting between the two, with Zou going into the fight with a 2-1 lead, but Amnat winning the biggest encounter of them all.
For Roach and Zou, it's back to the drawing board as they contemplate their next move after suffering their first defeat since joining forces two years ago.
"Maybe we didn't lose the fight, it doesn't matter. We need to work harder and win next time. We have to go back into the gym and make Shiming a more complete fighter," said Roach, who has flown back to the US to oversee Manny Pacquiao's preparations for his mega fight with Floyd Mayweather on May 2.
"He was a very awkward fighter," Roach said of Amnat, who improved his unbeaten record to 15-0, 5 KOs. "He ran a lot and he was a good counterpuncher. I didn't see this kind of fighter on the [video] tapes coming, so we weren't prepared for a lot of those things he was doing."
Roach was surprised by Amnat's mobility as he became an elusive target for Zou, who hardly landed any serious blows during the 12-round contest.
"His opponent was a hard fighter to beat. He gave us a lot of trouble and he was running around. We scored one knockdown [after it appeared Amnat had tripped] but it was very hard to fight him. It was very difficult when he has feet like he did. You must give him credit," said the 55-year-old trainer.
"We thought we were very effective. But we can't comment on the result. I landed more effective punches than him. But he was moving around a lot.
"I lost. This is part of life. It is an experience, but win or lose, I will come back again. Without losing, you cannot taste the sweetness of victory.
I will take a break from boxing and spend some time with my family because I didn't do that during Chinese New Year
"I didn't think I was outboxed by him." he continued. "He's more experienced than me. I will take a break from boxing and spend some time with my family because I didn't do that during Chinese New Year," said the Guizhou native, whose record dropped to 6-1, 1 KO.
Amnat's co-trainer, Aljoe Jaro, who with his brother Francisco helped mastermind the upset victory, said his fighter was always confident of winning and kept his promise by returning to Thailand with the belt. "Amnat was very pleased that we helped him out and he fought a great fight. He has several options in his next fight, maybe he will unify the titles," said Jaro, who revealed Amnat is likely to meet Filipino John Riel Casimero in his next fight.
If Zou wanted to see a future world champion, he should have taken a good look at his compatriot, Yang Lianhui, who is also known as Ik Yang.
Yang won his IBF light welterweight title eliminator fight against Thailand's Patomsuk Pathompothong with convincing ease to boost his hopes of a world title shot.
"I'm not very happy because my big brother [Zou] lost his fight. He should have been making history. I might have won my fight but it doesn't mean that I am at the level that I want to be. I will try harder for the future," said Yang, who improved his unbeaten record to 19-0 with 14 KOs.
