Zou Shiming of China works out in front of the media at the Venetian Macao hotel in Macau, March 5, 2015. (Photo : REUTERS)
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and Chinese boxing icon, Zou "Fists of Gold" Shiming (7-1, 2 KO's) just came from a scintillating eighth round technical knockout victory over previously unbeaten Natan Santana Coutinho (12-1, 10 KO's) in Shanghai, China this past weekend. The Chinese boxing standout looked absolutely amazing with his performance and at least one trainer thinks he's about to take on a new leaf.
Strength and conditioning coach and boxing trainer Justin Fortune was interviewed recently about his thoughts on the Shiming win, as well as what he thinks of Pacquiao fighting Bradley.
"[Zou] Shiming has improved so much. When I first saw Shiming, he was just basically an amateur. When I first looked at him I said, 'Wow. Freddie [Roach] has his work cut out for him'," said Fortune, in an interview with Youtube personality Radio Rahim.
"He has done a whole 180-degree turn. He's a complete fighter now so training was great."
The 34-year old Shiming challenged for the IBF world flyweight title in early 2015 but lost via unanimous decision. He spent some time away from the ring to regain his bearings and returned nearly a year later to a solid performance.
Fortune had nothing but praises for Shiming.
"He was good. He executed the gameplan well and he trains hard. He was a two-time gold medallist and a bronze medallist in three Olympics, he knows how to train. He listened and he did well," said Fortune.
It was only Shiming's second knockout victory over seven wins as a professional, but it's a sign that he's going in the right direction. There is no doubt Shiming is one of the most talented fighters at flyweight, and with his pedigree as well as his skillset, the sky's the limit for the youngster moving forward.
Fortune also touched base on the upcoming Pacquiao-Bradley rubber match, a third bout which he things will not be much different from the first two.
"Pacquiao just needs to be prepared as best as he possibly can because Timothy will be exactly the same," said Fortune.
"These guys don't change after 30, 40 fights. You don't change them. They might change for eight rounds but once they get hit they'll go back to exactly the same thing that's worked for them for the last 40 fights. Regardless, that's just the way it is. It happens to everybody and this one's the same," he added.
Fortune, who handled the Pacman early in his career, reconnected with the Filipino ring icon after former strength coach Alex Ariza left the Pacquiao camp. Fortune has been working with Pacquiao ever since.
"Manny needs to be strong, he needs to be fit and he needs to be in shape because Timothy always comes to fight. He's always a dangerous guy," said Fortune.
In his last bout, Pacquiao dropped a unanimous decision to long-time pound-for-pound rival Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr., in what turned out to be the richest fight in the history of boxing. However after a lackluster performance, Pacquiao complained about a torn right rotator cuff injury that prevented him from performing at his best. He had surgery just a few weeks after the bout and went a few months through rehabilitation.
Bradley was recently asked by media if targeting Pacquiao's shoulder would be part of his strategy and he neither confirmed nor denied he planned to do so.
"It's fighting. Of course it's fair game. Everything is fair game in the ring," said Fortune. "If he does that (target Pacquiao's shoulder), he does that. Freddie will set out a game plan, we'll be aware of it and be able to counter it."
"You actually have to be able to catch Manny too, it's not easy just to 'hit him in the shoulder.' So I don't really think much of it. The surgery that he had, and the person that did the surgery is one of the best in the world," said Fortune.
"We'll be prepared for whatever Tim brings."
