IT’S finally time for China’s best-known and most successful boxer Kevin Durant Shoes Australia , Zou Shiming, to seriously rethink his professional career after being knocked out by Japan’s Sho Kimura in his first WBO world title defending bout at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center yesterday.
Facing his opponent, a relatively unknown 28-year-old, 36-year-old Zou continued in his defensive style, stealing points with counter-punches while Kimura kept pushing forward to attack. Come round 11 of the 12-round bout, Zou’s deficit in stamina became evident when he fell to the floor after receiving a barrage of punches from his younger opponent.
The judge then called an end to the bout, as Zou encountered his first TKO defeat in his professional career Nike PG 2 Australia , which started only four years ago.
The surprising defeat threw a packed Oriental Sports Center into total silence before an emotional Zou, who was in tears, gave a 5-minute speech to the home crowd.
“My tears are not because of my defeat, but for China’s boxing,” said the Guizhou Province native. “For a long time, China’s boxing has not been understood or paid enough attention to. Today I lost my bout, but if it has aroused people’s interest in China’s boxing Nike PG 1 Australia , the it's served its purpose.”
“I've boxed for 22 years, and what I want is that one day, when I lose a fight and can not play any longer, China’s boxing will still be supported,” Zou added.
Though he did not confirm his retirement, many are regarding the speech as his informal farewell to the professional rink.
Turning professional
Zou went professional as late as 32 years of age, after winning two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Partnering with Chinese Sports promoter SECA Paul George Shoes Australia , Zou signed a contract with US boxing promoter Top Rank, and was subsequently trained by Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s coach.
Top Rank was eyeing the Chinese market after noticing Zou’s reputation and recognition in China, a country where professional boxing is still at a very early stage.
Zou’s nimble playing style and amateur boxing skills, however, could not allow him to reach similar achievements in professional boxing, despite his hard work.
Under Top Rank’s “protection Nike Kyrie Flytrap Australia ,” Zou’s professional bout opponents had been carefully chosen.
On July 19, 2014, Zou beat Luis de la Rosa by unanimous decision in Macau for his first professional title, the WBO International flyweight title. His first world title came last November when Zou defeated Prasitsak Phaprom via unanimous decision to win the vacant WBO flyweight title in Las Vegas.
The Shanghai fight was Zou’s first professional bout, backed by his own company Zouxuan Sports. However, eight weeks of preparation turned out to be far from enough for the 36-year-old to hold on for 12 rounds, even though his opponent Kimura is considered a rookie boxer Nike Kyrie S1 Hybrid Australia , and is far from being well recognized in his native Japan.
Despite the heart-breaking loss, Zou still remains the most successful boxer in China, though his methods could hardly be copied by any up-and-coming boxers. Professional boxing in China still has a long way to go.
Soccer may be a hot commodity in the US sport market but poses no threat to the NFL, which will remain King of the Hill for the foreseeable future, Fox Sports President Eric Shanks said Wednesday.
Fox, which broadcasts NFL games, also owns US television rights to the 2018 Nike Kyrie 3 Australia , 2022 and 2026 World Cups, the 2015 Women's World Cup and a portfolio of domestic leagues but it is American football that dominates its ratings.
"We are a sport-crazy country and there is nothing right now that would indicate that there is any threat to the King of the Hill which is the NFL," Shanks said at the Sport Business Summit in midtown Manhattan.
"Football is a uniquely American sport ... athletes will continue to play football for a very long time in this country."
In 2011, Fox, NBC and CBS agreed to a record-smashing, nine-year, $28 billion television rights deal with the NFL that dwarfed all other US broadcast packages.
While the NFL remains the undisputed No.1 for the US broadcasters Nike Kyrie 4 Australia , soccer has made solid gains in the US both on and off the pitch.
Major League Soccer (MLS) continues to add new franchises and has become an increasingly popular destination for marquee names.
The American appetite for top-flight soccer has even caught the attention of sponsors and advertisers as television ratings for everything from Premier League to women's soccer skyrocket.
"The time is now [for soccer]," said Shanks. "This country, if you kick around ball your ratings are up 25 percent to 50 percent ... [there's] a lot of reasons for it.
"Access to great international competitions, the growth of our domestic league, the success of the US team. FIFA the video game is also a big reason for it."
The growth in popularity is staggering to Shanks considering that just three decades ago soccer was starting from "zero" in the US.
Leagues have come and gone but with MLS scheduled to open its 20th season this week it appears soccer has finally gained a solid footing in the US.
"As I look back, especially for this audience, 1983 was zero year for soccer in this country. It was the year of the Cosmos and Pele and Beckenbauer Kyrie Irving Shoes Australia ," said Shanks. "The teenagers [back] then have teenagers of their own now. So we're really only at the beginning of the second-generation soccer in this country.
"That's why when we look at the 2011 Women's World Cup it had the highest rate of family viewing of any event, outrating the NFL, NBA, the Olympics, even, in terms of multi generations watching.
"We're really excited and clearly vesting in all aspects of soccer in this country."
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