?As he was valiant I honor him: but as he was ambitious I slew him? ? Shakespeare
This weekend the superb Zhou Shimming, BoxRec rated no. 167 will take his 4-0 record into the ring challenging for a WBO World Title against BoxRec no. 46, Luis De La Rosa, who up to most recently campaigned as a Light-Flyweight, one division down, and whose record the last four fights shows two knockout losses. There is much to like of Shimming, including superb conditioning, and what appears to be a solid chin, along with his well publicized and well earned amateur gold records. On the other hand when one straps on one of these numerous and sundry World Championship Belts it then begs the question, by the public, and possibly internally of the fighter themselves, as to whether they will step up to the most legitimate of challenges. Many of these belts are cast of grand illusions, and most certainly in consideration of ones place on BoxRec ratings, and are as easily promoted and publicized of grandeur, of shine, worthy of that late Indian summer Carny who comes to town with his carnival horror ride; Oh it can be made to look exciting but in the main result it is all phony ghostly apparition!
Losing Face, Saving Face, Face to Face
It is entirely likely that Zhou Shimming this weekend will earn himself a W.B.O. World Championship and that is said with absolutely no disrespect to his opponent who comes in with a solid 23-3 record. Champion Shimming from all appearances seems to be an honorable young man intent on exhibiting his warrior pride, ever so ingrained in his culture. If he chooses the honorable path, and decides to fight any of the BoxRec number one through number six, he will most certainly be in for a very difficult evening. Argentina?s number six rated Revco, 34-1, is superbly gifted in his spacing and has power either left hand or right hand. Number two rated Juan Estrada, 26-2, a 24 year old superb technician from Mexico, who holds a victory over another superbly gifted fighter, BoxRec number four Brian Viloria would be a very big ask of Champion Shimming. Moving up intothe weight division, at number eight, the power punching and always instantaneously dangerous Panamanian Luis ?El Nica? Concepcion who is on an eight fight win streak holding a record of 31-3. Concepcion is a dangerous fighter for any opponent as he carries lights out power.
Losing Face, Face to Face with the Beast
Shortly the number one rated BoxRec fighter in the world, Japanese Akira Yaegashi, will challenge Roman ?El Chocolatito? Gonzalez 39-0 with 33 knockouts. The 27-year-old Gonzalez is in the prime of his career and he may be the most technically gifted power punching combination punching fighter in all of boxing. He is that good! He will fight Yaegashi for a WBC Title and it will not be an easy fight. The betting book will most certainly favour Gonzalez as the Nicaraguan?s legendary status expands. He is a boxing gift to watch as his combinations flow and explode in multiples left and right side. Does Shimming aspire, in true championship form, to fight one of these individuals shortly. What is one to expect of Shimming, as warrior, otherwise, and most certainly, if he wins this weekend, as a ?Belt Holder?. What ambitious path, of destruction, victor or as loser, will Shimming take? The honorable championship challenge; of Yaegashi, Estrada, Segura, Viloria, ?El Chocolatito? Gonzalez, Revco, perhaps ?El Nica? of Panama, perhaps number twenty-seven Sitthiprasert of Thailand, a WBC Silver Fly Champion 49-4 who hasn?t lost in nine years and forty-eight fights but certainly should step up to a more difficult challenge, in due consideration of his listed opponents.
Shimming?s path will most certainly be interesting!
