When the time comes to pull punches

Even though their son had been born only a year before, Zou reached this momentous decision, his wife, a well-known television presenter, was fully supportive, he says. In fact she quit her job and was on hand to see him whenever he was in the ring.

At first, Zou says, he felt she was a burden because he needed to snatch 10 of the 60 seconds between rounds to ensure she was OK.

"It was a huge distraction, especially if I was hurt and she was crying."

But when she missed one of his fights, he says, he realized how important it was for her to be at ringside. They then made a pact: Zou would do all in his power to box wisely and protect himself, and she would do all in her power to stay strong.

He won half a dozen fights, including the World Boxing Organization international flyweight title in July last year, and in one of those fights knocked out the Thai Yokthong Kokietgym. However, in March he lost to another Thai, Amnat Ruenroeng, in a unanimous decision, for the International Boxing Federation flyweight title.

Zou says that this defeat in Macao was easier to swallow than his defeat at the Athens Olympics in 2004 to a Cuban who eventually won the gold medal.

"I used to put myself under huge pressure by being so desperate to win," Zou says. That was when he carried the hopes of the nation on his shoulders each time he entered the ring.

Now he is a lot more relaxed as he pursues his professional career, he says.

"I just do my best. Results and titles are no longer so important."

Of course, that does not mean that he does not still have other fights to fight, ones in which he is not up against a single opponent.

Recently he and his wife joined a charity drive in his hometown in Guizhou province that helps poor children and the elderly. He also appeared on a radio program, My Olympics, a Dream Come True, in Hong Kong's sole public broadcaster - Radio Television Hong Kong - aimed at encouraging young people in the city to pursue their sports dreams and to get to know the country better.

Zou says he is keen to give back to society something in return for the successes he has been allowed to enjoy. That reflects a credo of his, he says, that you cannot be a winner forever, but that you can be a hero forever.

Apart from being there with his wife bringing up Mingxuan and taking part in the filming of Dad, Where Are We Going? Zhou is now in training for his next fight, expected to be in Macao, in November.