Freddie Roach warns Zou Shiming to raise his game in second Macau fight
Chinese star accepts criticism from trainer and public and insists second professional bout will be more impressive than first
Zou Shiming has been told to stop showboating and focus on fighting when he steps into the ring in Macau next weekend.
He can't play to the crowd like he did last time. To do that, you really have to dominate
With a number of critics questioning Zou's victory in Macau in April in his professional debut - saying he's not good enough to clinch a world title belt within one or two years - coach Freddie Roach has warned the two-time Olympic gold medallist to stop fighting like an amateur.
"He can't play to the crowd like he did last time. If you are going to do that, you really have to dominate your opponent. He didn't do that," Roach said.
"When you do dominate your opponent, you can do a little talking and a little hands up and be a showman. Until he shows me that during a fight, I won't let him do that again."
Zou has much to prove after his unanimous-decision victory against little-known Mexican Eleazar Valenzuela on his professional debut in April.
The Chinese star will have up to step up a notch as he faces exciting Mexican prospect Jesus Ortega (3-1, 2 KOs) in Fists of Gold II at the Venetian Cotai Arena next Saturday. "I accept all criticism," he said. "I believe these people want me to become a better fighter and I feel I didn't do as well as I should have last time."I thought long and hard after my fight in April. Yes, it was my first pro fight and it was a whole new experience for me. I wasn't used to the environment. I think I was overawed by it all, fighting in front of 15,000 passionate fans.
"I only fought four rounds but it felt like more. I remember asking my coach what round it was and he said it was round two. I didn't have any idea how many rounds were left. I was caught up in all the excitement and attention that I was getting," said the 32-year-old flyweight.