Family fuels fire for Zou ahead of Macau match-up

Behind every great man there's a great woman, or so the saying goes. This certainly holds true for two-time Olympic gold medallist Zou Shiming, whose marriage to Ren Yingying is much more than just holy matrimony.

Behind the scenes, Ren runs the show as Zou's financial adviser, translator and partner, and they are considered one of China's best-known celebrity couples.

If Zou, 32, wins his second professional fight in tonight's Fists of Gold II bill against Mexican Jesus Ortega, he will owe much of the success to his wife, who quit a promising career as a TV news anchor to help Zou fulfil his dreams of becoming a professional athlete. It has taken them to Los Angeles where they are based as Zou trains under the legendary Freddie Roach.

"My wife has been a great support, even when she is not here. Across the ocean in the United States, she has to take care of the family. What I have to do is come here and focus on the fight. To win the fight would be a great gift for my wife as a reward for her support," said Zou.

Ren, 31, who hails from Guizhou province just like Zou and won a competition to represent Zunyi city as an ambassador, is eight months pregnant in Los Angeles and could not make the trip to Macau.

Asked whether he has been checking up on his wife and his soon-to-be-born son on a daily basis, Zou replied: "Because of the time difference, we usually communicate by sending each other photos and leaving messages on WeChat.