Comments Thread For: Bob Arum Views China as Future Boxing Hot Spot

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Boxing was banned in China under Mao Zedong because it was deemed too Western and too violent. But if Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum gets his way — and he usually does — the country will be the future of the sport.

“For any serious business person ... it’s a country of 1.4 billion people and it’s a country that’s emerging economically to be a real super power,” said Arum. “It’s a country where people are just starting to have the opportunity to sample what we in the West are used to, like professional boxing. I think if it’s done right, this will be the premier audience for the sport of boxing in the world.

Arum has lumped his bets on China’s two-time Olympic champion Zou Shiming, who made his professional debut on April 6th in Macau. Top Rank estimated that 200 to 300 million people in China tuned in live to watch the 31-year-old flyweight. [Click Here To Read More]

[Heavy Heart]

“For any serious business person ... it’s a country of 1.4 billion people and it’s a country that’s emerging economically to be a real super power,” said Arum. “It’s a country where people are just starting to have the opportunity to sample what we in the West are used to, like professional boxing. I think if it’s done right, this will be the premier audience for the sport of boxing in the world.

Make sure Bob it's on HBO!

[TOBYLEE1]

Bob I'll bet you it won't. It will be like soccer in the USA

[RajahBell]

Watch Bob Arum get upset when Goldenboy tries to copy their move to China in a couple of years. But, Bob should make plenty of money before them by tapping their national pride and martial arts history. China has global aspirations and boxing might increase their prestige in the world stage.

[KickAzz]

If Shiming and Xiong are protected like Calzaghe then it's a start to creating a boxing culture in China

[Capncrunch]

China is an amazing fight atmosphere. I'm an MMA follower and the shows they put on there are amazing. Hopefully Top Rank can get something going there. Putting Manny there in his next fight with some prospects on the undercard would be historic!

[SceneSpectator!]

Despite been 2 time gold medalist and a bronze medalist in olympic, nothing especial to Zou in his professional fight debut, he fought like no-body as he hit often times the air with his wide open swing of punches, and often times dropped his hands leaving him no defense. The way i looked the fight, his opponent wins esp if Zou's KD in 1at round was not ruled as slippied, because he was hit by flashed straight punched to the body before he went down. IMHO, he will devour by an experiened top 20 fighters in his division!

[sweetnuff]

bob arum is a scumbag.

[mike gonzalez]

Bob Arum, did you say free tv in China, yeah right!!!

Once Arum continues to stage fights in China and build a fan base he will start charging$$$ the Chinese, for pay-per-view in the future, I said it first. Free tv my a$$. That is temporary.

[Weebler I]

China is an amazing fight atmosphere. I'm an MMA follower and the shows they put on there are amazing. Hopefully Top Rank can get something going there. Putting Manny there in his next fight with some prospects on the undercard would be historic!