Zou Shiming set to make Macau return in first world title defence
The newly crowned WBO champion is scheduled to fight in Cotai Arena for the first time in two years as top-class boxing returns to the former Portuguese enclave
China’s world flyweight champion Zou Shiming is set to make his first title defence in a familiar venue as world-class boxing returns to Macau for the first time in almost two years.
Zou is expected to make his return to Venetian’s Cotai Arena on April 1 – the first time the Chinese two-time gold medallist will have fought in Macau since March 2015.
Macau last hosted boxing at the Cotai Arena in July 2015 with “Victory at the Venetian” that saw will Cesar “El Distinto” Cuenca of Argentina defeat China’s “Ik” Yang Lianhui for the vacant IBF junior welterweight world title
Zou (9-1, 2 KO’s) won the vacant WBO flyweight belt last year after dispatching Thailand’s Prasitsak Phaprom with a unanimous decision on November 5 on the undercard bout of the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas showdown at Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With the world title safely in the bag, Zou would be able to promote the sport on the mainland like never before. Zou has fought seven times in Macau, kicking off his professional career at Cotai Arena in April 2013 and all his fights in the former Portuguese enclave had been held in front of capacity or near capacity audiences.
