Chinese Boxer Gives New Fans a Reason to Cheer
Boxing is a relatively new sport in China, but quickly gaining in popularity. The government banned it for years, because it was too brutal and capitalist, and changed its mind only in 1986, when the Chinese medal-counters realized that boxing, with 11 weight classes, is one of those sports, like rowing or canoeing, that offer multiple opportunities for trips to the victor’s stand.
The national program still has a way to go. On Wednesday, the Chinese heavyweight Nijiati Yushan, who won the bronze at the 2007 world championship, got thumped, 23-4, by the Russian Oleksandr Usyk. But the Chinese team has a serious medal contender in the flyweight Zou Shiming, and on Wednesday his countrymen showed up in force to support him.
Unlike most of the other Olympic venues, which were built for the Games, the Workers’ Gym, a big circular building, has been around for a half-century. It has a pleasingly proletarian feel — perfect for boxing — and old-fashioned echoing acoustics.
The stands at many Olympic contests so far have been packed with claques of Chinese wearing matching T-shirts and brandishing cheer sticks; they sometimes applaud at inappropriate moments, or shout over and over again, “Go China!”
But many of the fans on Wednesday were knowledgeable and spontaneous, and sounded like a genuine fight crowd, complete with shouts and catcalls.
In a Vegasy touch, the fighters for each bout were led to the ring by tall young women in minidresses, wearing white gloves and white boots, and carrying placards announcing the boxer’s home country. Zou came out wearing a hooded robe, bouncing and shadowboxing and every now and then doing the Ali stomp.
Between the third and fourth rounds, Zou was so fresh he stood in his corner, twitching his shoulders, as Salas sat and tried to grab a breath.
The fight was really over in the second round, when Zou stung Salas with an uppercut and a right-left combination to go up, 6-0. Then, circling away from Salas, who kept putting his head down and charging, Zou cruised to the end.
“It was just normal and relatively easy,” Zou said. “I did everything my coach told me. He had everything very well prepared.”
Deontay Wilder’s victory over Abdelaziz Touilbini of Algeria was so convincing it lifted the hopes of the American team, which had been sadly deflated by the collapse of the bantamweight Gary Russell Jr. and the unexpected defeat of Rau’shee Warren, the current world flyweight champion who was thought to be America’s best hope for a boxing medal.
Wilder said he was looking forward “to carrying the same spirit through the next three rounds.”
“I have goals set for myself, and I can see myself on that gold-medal pedestal, so I’m not going to stop,” he said.
Referring to his teammates, he added, “I hope I can show them we still have a chance, lift up their hope.”
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