Jabbing into China's mainstream

Experts discuss nation's ring future at Shanghai summit

The "sweet science" is poised to punch its way into China's sporting mainstream.

That was the consensus at last weekend's Shanghai International Boxing Summit, which explored ways for professionals from home and abroad to promote the sport among Chinese young people.

"It is important to educate more people about boxing, to develop new courses and systems and plan a more commercial format," said China's two-time Olympic gold medalist and former World Boxing Organization flyweight champion Zou Shiming.

"People need to get rid of the traditional bias about boxing, which is that it's cruel and bloody, and instead realize that it is an inspirational sport that rewards courage and perseverance."

Organized by Zouxuan Sports, Zouxuan Industrial, the Chinese Boxing Union, the Chinese Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Council, the summit focused on building an international platform for homegrown fighters and promoting youth involvement in the sport.

"Boxing has changed my life, and I want to bring China's youth hope, change their dreams and lives by spreading boxing culture throughout the nation," said Zou, who held the WBO title from November 2016 to July 2017.

CBF president Zhang Chunliang said China is still playing catch-up with established pugilistic powers like the United States, Cuba and Germany, where kids as young as five years old test themselves in the ring.

"It will take time for Chinese boxing to develop; we need to learn from foreign countries but not copy them because China needs to have its own features and characteristics," Zhang said.

Zhang noted that the establishment of Shanghai's No 1 Sports Center, which hosted the summit, underlines the commitment from Zou and other boxing supporters from all sectors of society.

"I hope more young people will find their talent here in the center and become as excellent a world champion as Zou," he added.

Zou's wife, Ran Yingying, was appointed head of WBC China by Robert Brooks Yalen, vice-president of the council, which along with the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of the sport's four main sanctioning bodies for professional competition.

Yalen said China represents a huge market and already has great coaches, "so it will be natural for the country to grow talent very quickly".

"We want to make sure that our link with China is tight. We feel this country has a great opportunity to reach a high level in boxing in a short time," he added.

"You will grow the way you like. We don't want to tell you what we think, but we want to be there for you with open dialogue, providing every assistance."

Ran agreed, adding: "Boxing helps improve confidence, physical fitness, and will power. We will bring advanced foreign professional formats to the nation to promote the development of the sport."