Zou Shiming’s failure to win the IBF flyweight title does not mean China’s dream of having a professional world boxing champion is over, says veteran promoter Bob Arum. The 83-year-old Top Rank chief, already eyeing a comeback fight for Zou, turned his attention to the next in line for a shot at glory: Hong Kong’s Rex Tso Sing-yu.
Tso, 27, fighting on the undercard of Zou’s title clash with Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Macau at the weekend, beat Filipino Michael Enriquez on points in a super flyweight eliminator.
Arum announced that Tso, unbeaten in 16 fights, will now challenge WBA champion Kohei Kono of Japan at the same Cotai Arena on July 18, making him the first Hong Kong boxer to fight for a world title.
“Rex Tso put on a wonderful display,” Arum said. “He better get used to all the attention because a lot more is coming.”
Following his win, Tso declared: “Next step: win a world title.
“After that, help to popularize boxing in Hong Kong and China. When people think of Hong Kong, I don’t want them to just think of Bruce Lee. I want them to think of Rex Tso.”
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, in the middle of training Manny Pacquiao for his May 2 mega fight with Floyd Mayweather, was singing the praises of Tso, perhaps looking to add to the 34 world champions he has trained in his legendary career.
“I’d love to work with him. I think the kid’s got real potential,” Roach said. “He’s a good young fighter. It was fun to watch. I enjoyed that fight. They both dug down really deep.”
Arum said that they will look for an opponent for Zou’s comeback fight on the same card. “Shiming knows that all great fighters suffer a loss,” said Arum of the fighter he described last year as the “poster boy” for the rise of professional boxing in China.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou, 33, was fast-tracked by Arum and Roach to a world title shot in just his seventh pro fight. But the Guizhou native’s inexperience showed as he was outmaneuvered, outboxed and outfoxed by Amnat. “It is part of life,” Zou said of his defeat.
“This is the beginning of a new journey,” added Zou, who said he will take a couple of weeks off with his family before “getting back on it.”
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
