By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Following an impressive performance in his first ten round bout, popular former Chinese Olympic two-time  Champion  Zou Shiming is eyeing a world title fight next.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports from Las Vegas that Zou Shiming “has come a long way” and credited celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who he said, “has done a great job.”

He said that it looks like the undefeated Zou Shiming who won a unanimous ten round decision against Luis  De La Rosa in Macau last Saturday will fight for the world title but said “its up to Freddie who he fights.” 

It is likely that should Zou Shiming fight for the title he would take on IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng, also a former Olympian who won the title by a twelve round split decision over Kazuto Ioka of Japan last May 7 after earlier grabbing the vacant title from the Philippines Rocky Fuentes with a twelve round unanimous decision on January 22 this year.

The 34 year old Ruenroeng has a record of 13-0 with 5 knockouts while Zou Shiming has a record of 5-0 with 1 knockout.

Arum said that should Zou Shiming win the title his first defense is likely to be against Brian Viloria who scored a 5th round knockout over Mexico’s Zuniga on the same Top Rank card as Zou Shiming at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Well known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis who was at ringside in Macau said he saw Viloria watching Zou Shiming’s bout intently and studying the undefeated Chinese flyweight’s moves.

At the same time Maniatis said Viloria started slowly but quickly turned it on and was simply too good for Alfredo Zuniga whom he knocked out with a vicious left hook to the liver in  the 5th round.