FORMER Olympic champion Zou Shiming has announced the date of his first professional fight in the United States — June 11 at the iconic Madison Square Garden.

    Turning 35 next week, Zou will take on 19-year-old Jozsef Ajtai (15-2-0, 10 KOs) of Hungary in a non-championship 10-round bout in New York.

    “I’m in good physical condition,” Zou said at Pudong International Airport before leaving for the U.S. “I will have a one-month training with Freddie Roach to prepare for the bout.”

    China’s best-known boxer knocked out South American champion Natan Santana Coutinho to clinch the WBO International flyweight title in Shanghai in his ninth professional fight in January — 10 months after he lost to Thai Amnat Ruenroeng in China’s Macao to miss out on the world title.

    Accompanying Zou will be Zhang Chuanliang, who coached Zou during the two Olympic Games. “It’s been three years since I first went to Los Angeles,” said Zou. “I want to show Zhang my home in the U.S.; he will also help me in my preparations for the bout.” It will be the first time a Chinese professional boxer takes part in a 10-round bout at Madison Square Garden.

    (SD-Agencies)