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Top Rank is back in Macau today for Fists of Gold II, the second Zou Shiming-headlined card, which will also feature two world title fights and a pair of heavyweight prospects battling in a 10-rounder.
In the main event, Zou (1-0, 0 KO) takes on Mexico's Jesus Ortega (3-1, 2 KO) in a six-round flyweight bout. Trainer Freddie Roach says that Shiming has shown notable improvement in training camp, and that he expects the two-time Olympic gold medalist to fight "more like a pro" from now on. Then again, Roach says a lot of things, so we'll see what actually happens. It goes without saying that Zou is supposed to win this fight, but Ortega has promised to bring the fight to him.
More notable for serious boxing fans is the undercard. Juan Francisco Estrada (24-2, 18 KO) will defend his WBO and WBA flyweight titles against Milan Melindo (29-0, 12 KO) in what very well could be an action-packed battle. Estrada upset Brian Viloria at the first Fists of Gold show in April to win the titles, while Melindo stopped Tommy Seran on the undercard. Both fights were very entertaining, and though 1 + 1 doesn't always = 2 in boxing, expectations for this fight are pretty high.
Evgeny Gradovich (16-0, 8 KO) will make the first defense of his IBF featherweight title, taking on Argentina's Mauricio Javier Munoz (26-3, 12 KO). Munoz has won five straight including a debatable decision over Luis Franco last October. This will be his second world title shot. In 2011, he was knocked out in nine by Toshiaki Nishioka, but fought fairly well before the ending. Gradovich beat Billy Dib for the title in March on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
In a 10-round heavyweight fight, with a spot on the Pacquiao-Rios undercard said to be up for grabs, Andy Ruiz Jr (19-0, 13 KO) will take on Joe Hanks (21-0, 14 KO). Also on the undercard: Dave Penalosa, Rex Tso, and Genesis Servania.
Our live coverage will be truly live, and it will be for the entire card. "Spoilers" won't be avoided anywhere on the site. HBO2 will air Shiming-Ortega, Estrada-Melindo, and Gradovich-Munoz on tape delay at 5:30 pm EDT this afternoon, while Ruiz-Hanks will air on UniMas' Solo Boxeo Tecate at 11:00 pm EDT.