China's Zou Shiming (R) punches Thailand's Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym during their flyweight fight in Macau in November 2014. (Photo : Getty Images)
Top Rank fighter Zou Shiming (6-1, 1 KO) is scheduled to return to the ring this Saturday to face undefeated Brazilian Natan Coutinho (12-0, 10 KO) in a 12-round match for the vacant WBO International Flyweight title at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
Fight News reported that the 34-year-old Zou, who is currently considered as "China's most popular boxer", is set to be back in action inside the squared circle "for the first time since his lone pro loss", a 12-round unanimous decision defeat in the hands of IBF world champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand in March of last year.
Zunyi, Guizhou, China native is said to be the favorite going into the championship fight with Ruenroeng, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist failed to deliver what was expected of him as the rounds went on.
What was worse was Zou came out of the fight with a shoulder injury, similar to what Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao had experienced against Floyd Mayweather Jr., which sidelined him for the rest of 2015.
However, even with the disappointing loss, it is clear that Top Rank chief Bob Arum is not giving up on the Chinese sensation with this latest scheduled title fight in mainland China.
Meanwhile, this match is reportedly Coutinho's first bout away from his home country of Brazil, as per the Boxing Channel.
The Sao Paulo native is virtually an unknown in the professional ranks despite being undefeated in his first 12 fights mostly against local opposition. He is 13 years Zou's junior at 21 and is said to have heavy hands for a young fighter.
Still, Zou is coming again as the favorite because of his experience, half-inch height advantage, and longer reach.
Zou is a well-established amateur boxer before deciding to finally become a professional in 2013 when he was already at age 32. He won numerous gold medals not only in the Olympics, but also in the World Amateur Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships.
His most notable gold medal wins were in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics in his familiar light flyweight category. He also won the gold in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
