File photo of Zou Shiming.
Chinese boxing icon Zou Shiming is making his U.S. debut Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
At the place where his idol Ali used to fight, the flyweight will play against Hungarian Jozsef Ajtai.
Tens of millions of Chinese fans will watch closely as the three-time Olympic medalist plays his first overseas match as a pro boxer.
Being able to play at the Garden, known as the palace hall of professional boxing, Zou feels extremely fortunate.
"Born in China' s remote mountainside areas I used to be nobody, now being able to play at such a stage, I feel good about myself," Zou said.
The Chinese will not allow himself to underestimate any opponent though some say Ajtai is not as experienced as he is.
"Every game must be a hard-fought game," Zou said, knowing how hard it can be for a Chinese to make it this far in professional boxing.
After winning the light flyweight gold medal at 2012 Summer Olympics, then 31-year-old Zou decided to switch to the professional field.
Holding a 7-1 record, Zou has since won two WBO International flyweight titles.
With different game rules and more intensified training, professional boxing has put Zou in a new battle field, but the yearnings for more titles has kept him fighting, and more significantly, he wants to pave the way for Chinese boxing.
"I hope I can inspire more Chinese boxers to fight their way through on international stages," said 5.38-foot Zou, who is dedicated in promoting boxing in China besides seeking personal achievement, as it is his beloved sport that has taken him to where he is today.
After losing to Thailand's player Amnat Ruenroeng for his IBF title in March 2015, Zou joined a hit Chinese reality TV show in the summer, leading many to believe the boxing star was retiring.
However, he made a stunning comeback in January winning his latest WBO title after beating the Brazilian Natan Santana Countinho with a KO in Shanghai.
Looking to the future, Zou, father of two, said he needs to spend more time with family, but it is still not the time for him to say goodbye to the sport where his passion belongs to for the past 20 years.
"I want a Grand Slam in professional boxing, and I want to obtain all the titles, well, I need to take this one first," Zou smiled.
Saturday' s 10-round match, as Zou describes, will be like a painting process, with his previous toil and sweats as the ink, and himself the brush. How beautiful of a painting there can be? He is ready to make a piece.
