(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-20 10:40

Newly crowned world boxing champion Zou Shiming said his success in the ring is the best way to showcase China's power in the sport.

Zou Shiming faces off against an opponent during the World Championship in Chicago, Illinois earlier this month. He is one of China's main hopes to win an Olympic gold medal at next year's Beijing Games. [Xinhua]

"This is my second world championship title and also the second by a Chinese boxer. I used my fist to tell the world that China is powerful," said Zou, who defended the 48kg title at the World Boxing Championship in Chicago, Illinois earlier this month.

Zou outpointed Harry Tanamor of the Philippines to win 17-3 and he attributed the victory to his healthy mood.

"I always told myself to keep a low key against any opponent," Zou said. "I saw myself as an unknown boxer. This enables me to keep composure under pressure."

Zou, 26, has been named as a gold medal hopeful for China at next year's Beijing Olympic Games.

He won a historic bronze medal for China at the Athens Olympics three years ago. It was the best China has ever placed in the Olympic Games.

"The world championship is the best way to tune up for the Beijing Games. And winning the title is an extra motivation for me to fight for a gold on home soil next year," said Zou, who was a Wushu athlete before turning to boxing.

"There are new rivals coming up in this tournament. So we will work even harder to better prepare for the future challenge."

Zou's impressive performances also awarded him the sole MVP of the tournament and won praises from chief officials.

"He is brilliant. He is awarded the tournament's MVP," said Cui Fuguo, director of the Boxing and Taekwondo Administrative Center (BTAC) of State General Administration of Sports.

"He showed stability and became more mature in the ring. He is able to better control the game and give more pressure to his opponent.

"Moreover, officials from the International Boxing Council and coaches of other countries are speaking highly of his skill."

Standing at 1.70m, Zou was not born a boxer. He had to serve as a sparring partner at first.

But he soon showed talent with his feel for pace and quick speed, taking center stage at the 2003 World Championship where he surprisingly made it into the finals.

Although he lost to the ultimate champion, a silver medal at the World Championship was still the best result China had ever achieved in the boxing ring.

Sport on the rise

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