China's Zou Shiming on course for world title, says Freddie Roach
Trainer insists two-time Olympic gold winner has what it takes to become an IBF champion
China's Zou Shiming played a bit part in the new Transformers movie, but Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach thinks his protégé is very close to playing his biggest role yet - champion of the world.
The American trainer is convinced the two-time Olympic champion can go all the way to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title after the mainlander survived 10 rounds to outpoint remarkably tough Colombian Luis de la Rosa (23-4-1,13 KOs) in Saturday's Champions of Gold.
By winning his fifth straight pro fight (5-0-0, 1 KO), Roach believes Zou has a genuine shot at superstardom having already landed his first professional belt, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) international flyweight title - one tier below a world title - by unanimous decision.
Roach had said the 33-year-old Guizhou native was being fast-tracked towards a title fight because of his advancing age and if he performed well in this bout, the Zou team would eye a world title fight in November. Zou's performance had his team nodding in approval.
"We did 10 hard rounds tonight. It wasn't perfect but we are going closer and closer all the time. I think we will be there pretty soon [a world title fight]. His [Zou] right hand was great and his power was a bit better. He was throwing more combinations. That's what I want to see," said Roach.
