American-Chinese boxing partnership come to fruition
For the past few years promoter Dino Duva has been collecting air miles by travelling between the United States and China in an effort to improve business relations and expose America to the potentially lucrative Chinese boxing market. He has been working closely with the Chinese Boxing Federation to introduce Chinese prospects to the United States.
The results of his efforts will begin to unfold in a card scheduled for 1 Oct in New York. The card will feature his Global Sports & Entertainment as well as the Chinese Boxing Federation in a night of amateur bouts featuring some of China’s 2012 Olympic prospects going head to head with top American amateurs. The card is to be titled “Empires Collide.”
To further add to appeal and draw a viable market, the card will take place in Manhattan’s Chinatown. It will include 2008 Chinese Olympian Zhang Shilei, the 26-year-old 6-foot-7 super heavyweight silver medallist, and light flyweight gold medallist Zou Shiming.
The anticipated date of arrival for the Chinese team is 10 Sept. They will be training at the Fernwood resort in Pennsylvania, under the direction of notorious trainer Lou Duva, Dino’s father. He is a consultant to the Chinese national team.
"This is the first U.S. promotion for our venture with the Chinese Boxing Federation and it's an extremely exciting one," Dino Duva mused. "I look forward to working together in presenting a tremendous night of amateur boxing featuring the best that China and the USA have to offer. It will be an historic night."
The card will include 13 bouts, 3 of which will feature women. The event could very well be a preview of things to come in the 2012 London Olympics.
Members of the American team have yet to be announced, but it is expected they will be top amateur prospects from most weight classes.
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