Shiming vs. Rouenrong: Was Zou rushed to the title?

By Boxing News - 03/07/2015 - Comments

shiming77By Gerardo Granados: Tonight at the Cotai Arena, Macao at China; Amnat Rouenrong W15(5)-L0-D0 defended his IBF flyweight belt against contender Zou Shiming W6(1)-L1-D0, winning a clear Unanimous Decision by 116-111 x3. The fight resulted in an entertaining bout to watch, although the challenger didn’t show the hunger needed to defeat the defending organization champion. There was one flash knockdown by Rouenrog in the second round but he didn’t seem to be badly hurt and that might be the best round for Shiming who never adjusted his game plan.

Many readers consider Freddie Roach as one of the best trainers in professional boxing but with all due respect I think he failed to do his job at the corner against Rouenrong, who was not only determined to not lose his belt but also showed higher ring IQ than the challenger. Maybe the reader has notice there is a similar boxing style on Shiming to Manny Pacquiao, I am not saying it is identical but similar. I can’t remember have seen Roach prepare his fighters to do different things inside the ring when the original game plan fails, but there must be many fights where he was able to adjust.

On his second professional bout the current WBO featherweight belt holder Vasyl Lomachenko was rushed to the title against Orlando Salido and lost a Split Decision. Vasyl now has a record of W3(1)-L1-D0, Lomachenko does has a vast amateur experience but I wonder if he is in the same level of competition as WBA feather Champion Nicholas Walters and if his management will argue he is not ready to fight Walters just yet.

Newly crowned WBC heavyweight belt holder Deontay Wilder cannot argue not to be ready to take on the Heavyweight Champion of the World Wladimir Klitschko, because if he holds a major organization strap that means he is ready to defend it against all comers and to be able to unify if he was requested. But will his management argue he lacks the experience or will they acknowledge the Bronze Bomber might have been rushed to the title.

If Shiming struggled against Rouenrong can you imagine what WBC flyweight Champion of the World Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez or WBA – WBO flyweight belt holder Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada would do to him?

Hopefully trainer Kevin Barry will prepare heavyweight prospect Joseph Parker to deal with different type of fighters before allow him to take a shot at a major boxing organization belt. I think all fighters must develop their skills and acquire enough experience by fighting different boxing styles before taking a shot at a major organization title and not just rely on a big promoter to help him out now and then when things don’t go as planned.

I am convinced that Zou Shiming was rushed to the title to try to open the big Chinese boxing market, but what about the readers. Do you agree?



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