Zou Shiming signs with Top Rank

Henno30

Interesting development.

Top Rank Sign Double Olympic Champ

American boxing promoter Top Rank is set to sign China’s double Olympic Gold medalist Zhou Shi Ming to promotional contract.

The standard of Chinese amateur boxing has become high profile since the 2008 Olympic Games were held in Beijing with a number of decorated amateurs turning professional but the addition of Shi Ming to the pro game is the most significant yet.

Shi Ming,who is also a three times world amateur, is set to sign a contract with Top Rank this week.

Bob Arum, the Top Rank boss, is travelling to China today for the signing of the light flyweight legend.

At age 31 and fighting at such a light weight Arum will have to move Shi Ming quickly. It is understood that Shi Ming will make his pro debut on an April 6th on the island of Macau, headlined by IBF flyweight champion Brian Viloria defending his title against Juan Francisco Estrada.

http://www.secondsout.com/news/main-news/top-rank-sign-double-olympic-champ

ebbsy

How will he persistently foul now ?

Underground

Good news for Paddy Barnes I guess,although I'm not sure if Zhou would have been around for the Rio games anyway.

megadodge

Not sure he'll make a good pro, especially at his advanced age and with his style.

I think the only reason he's being signed by Bob is because he's a major star in China, meaning there could be plenty of $$$$ for the few years left in him and it also gives Top Rank an opening into the potentially huge Chinese market.

walshb

I just can't see his style at this stage making any real waves at pro. I wasn't overly impressed with him in London. I thought Paddy beat him.

Similar to Nevin. Nevin sure did impress me in London, but I don't see his style being all that up to the pro game. Even watching the WSB I am seeing this.

megadodge

Nevin is fighting 5kg above his fighting weight. That's a serious jump.

Big Ears

walshb wrote: »

I just can't see his style at this stage making any real waves at pro. I wasn't overly impressed with him in London. I thought Paddy beat him.

Similar to Nevin. Nevin sure did impress me in London, but I don't see his style being all that up to the pro game. Even watching the WSB I am seeing this.

I can't say I'm too surprised by much in this sport, but Zou Shiming turning pro has slightly caught me off guard. From a fighting point of view I would've agreed with you Walshb. However what we've got here is someone with a bit of talent (whether the pro game will suit him or not), a massive promoter (if Top Rank do sign him) and a huge fan base, meaning the money behind him will be crazy.

I'd be highly confident they'll get him a 'World title', all the need to do is have him in a competitive fight with one of the 4.........or 5.......or 6........or however many title holders the 4 main organisations have between them now, at home in China, in front of a big crowd and Bob's influence and bingo, World title.
While he may not suit the pro game, I think he'll become good enough to be at least competitive with a weaker title holder, and that's all that will be needed.


As for Nevin I wouldn't necessarily agree. His WSB fights from the last 2 seasons encouraged me that he actually could adapt to the pro game, and while this year hasn't been quite as good, he has been fighting against guys 5kg bigger than him as Megadodge mentioned.

I mean just last week Nevin boxed the Silver medalist at lightweight from the Beijing games in Daouda Sow (who has now entered the WSB). Sow turned pro after and is 12-0 as a professional, included in those fights is him winning and defending the French Lightweight title. If you can beat someone of that level you probably deserve a craic at the European Lightweight title (as a voluntary), and over 5 rounds that's exactly what what Nevin did and imo won a shutout.
Now did he look like a terrific pro fighter while doing it ?, no, but when you consider that Nevin would really be a Bantamweight/Super-Bantamweight if he were a pro, you have to reconsider his potential as a pro fighter.

I think with a good trainer and promoter behind him the Sky is the limit for Nevin in the pro game, but I know others will disagree.

walshb

Big Ears wrote: »

I can't say I'm too surprised by much in this sport, but Zou Shiming turning pro has slightly caught me off guard. From a fighting point of view I would've agreed with you Walshb. However what we've got here is someone with a bit of talent (whether the pro game will suit him or not), a massive promoter (if Top Rank do sign him) and a huge fan base, meaning the money behind him will be crazy.

I'd be highly confident they'll get him a 'World title', all the need to do is have him in a competitive fight with one of the 4.........or 5.......or 6........or however many title holders the 4 main organisations have between them now, at home in China, in front of a big crowd and Bob's influence and bingo, World title.
While he may not suit the pro game, I think he'll become good enough to be at least competitive with a weaker title holder, and that's all that will be needed.


As for Nevin I wouldn't necessarily agree. His WSB fights from the last 2 seasons encouraged me that he actually could adapt to the pro game, and while this year hasn't been quite as good, he has been fighting against guys 5kg bigger than him as Megadodge mentioned.

I mean just last week Nevin boxed the Silver medalist at lightweight from the Beijing games in Daouda Sow (who has now entered the WSB). Sow turned pro after and is 12-0 as a professional, included in those fights is him winning and defending the French Lightweight title. If you can beat someone of that level you probably deserve a craic at the European Lightweight title (as a voluntary), and over 5 rounds that's exactly what what Nevin did and imo won a shutout.
Now did he look like a terrific pro fighter while doing it ?, no, but when you consider that Nevin would really be a Bantamweight/Super-Bantamweight if he were a pro, you have to reconsider his potential as a pro fighter.

I think with a good trainer and promoter behind him the Sky is the limit for Nevin in the pro game, but I know others will disagree.

I watched Nevin's win against Sow lasy week. I just wan't all that impressed with Sow. Nevin still had to beat him, all credit there. I don't see it with Nevin as regards the pro thing. If he was to go pro soon he would be at 125 lbs I think. Nevin is about 5 feet 8 or so. Has a decent frame on him too. I wouldn't see him at 122 lbs.

Henno30

Zou Shiming making his debut in Macao today. Boxnation coverage starting at 2.30pm I believe. He's getting $300,000 for it! It's good to be a national here in a country of 1.4bn people.

Viloria-Estrada is on the undercard which should be a good fight. Viloria's a great fighter.

MickFleetwood

He's not going to go far at all in the professional ranks in my opinion. Too amateurish a style coupled along with age. He's already slipping and didn't seem as good in '12 as he did in '08.

Vasyl Lomachenko is the real man to look out for. Bob Arum will milk Zou Shiming to the last, though. He's going to really use the Chinese market to the best of his ability and create a **** load of money.
Nothing but another Yan Barthelemy here!

Henno30

MickFleetwood wrote: »

He's not going to go far at all in the professional ranks in my opinion. Too amateurish a style coupled along with age. He's already slipping and didn't seem as good in '12 as he did in '08.

Vasyl Lomachenko is the real man to look out for. Bob Arum will milk Zou Shiming to the last, though. He's going to really use the Chinese market to the best of his ability and create a **** load of money.
Nothing but another Yan Barthelemy here!

BoxNation lost the satellite link but he looked pretty terrible in the first three rounds, considering the level of opponent.

Viloria-Estrada was a great fight. Superb display by Estrada with shades of JMM in some of his work. No way in hell they'll put Shiming in with him. Estrada would knock him out, and quickly too.

MickFleetwood

Henno30 wrote: »

BoxNation lost the satellite link but he looked pretty terrible in the first three rounds, considering the level of opponent.

Viloria-Estrada was a great fight. Superb display by Estrada with shades of JMM in some of his work. No way in hell they'll put Shiming in with him. Estrada would knock him out, and quickly too.

Really? I'll have to check that fight out. Expected Viloria to win, and wanted him to also. :pac: Ah well.

Viloria or Segura would also **** Shiming up if that's the case.

FTA69

I went to see Nevin box in the WSB a few weeks back and he was fantastic. Your man didn't even land a jab until well into the third round. As others said, Nevin is frequently dealing with larger men but to be honest he fights in a very fencing-like manner. It's perfect for amateur boxing but could he cope with a determined banger or in-fighter in the pro game? I'm not sure to be honest. I would like to see him turn pro though.

MickFleetwood

Well, I checked Shiming out against the limited but game Valenzuela. I was wholly underwhelmed.

Dick phelan

anyone got a link to the fight i missed it was zhou really as bad as it sounds

clubwelly

This is the best one I could find cos the link to the fight crashed in the 3rd.

http://youtu.be/wgwKUGCItic

Agree with the other posters that Zou is on the slide