Amnat Ruenroeng vs. Zou Shiming: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info

In just his seventh professional fight, Zou Shiming will take on Amnat Ruenroeng Saturday with the IBF Flyweight Championship hanging in the balance in Macau, China.

Shiming, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, will go for the title in front of what promises to be a partisan Chinese crowd. He will put his perfect 6-0 record on the line, but his opponent will carry an unblemished mark into the bout as well.

Ruenroeng is the fighting pride of Thailand, and he won't easily let his 14-0 record go by the wayside despite his underdog status.

Shiming and Ruenroeng figure to engage in one of the most exciting flyweight clashes in recent memory, and here is all the information needed to enjoy it.

Where: Cotai Arena at The Venetian Macao in Macau, China

When: Saturday, March 7

Watch: HBO2 (starts on tape delay at 5 p.m. ET in USA) or BoxNation (airs live at 7:30 a.m. ET or 12:30 p.m. GMT in UK)

Live Stream: BoxNation

About Ruenroeng

Like Shiming, Ruenroeng got a late start in professional boxing, as he didn't make his debut until 2012. The 35-year-old star's ascent has been rapid, though, as he captured the IBF flyweight title in just his 12th career fight by beating Rocky Fuentes last year.

Despite that, the popular expectation is that Shiming will find a way to take the title. The two skilled combatants met three times previously as amateurs, and Ruenroeng believes he got the better of those fights even though he went 1-2, according to Unus Alladin of the South China Morning Post.

We fought three times, beginning with the King's Cup in 2007, which I won. Zou Shiming is a very good friend of mine. … The record says I lost to Zou twice, but I think I won our last fight in the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Guangzhou [in 2010]. The fans even thought so as well. You can say it's a revenge match for me.

The fact that Ruenroeng seemingly has added motivation is something that shouldn't be taken lightly. One can only assume that he has a chip on his shoulder to prove that he is a better boxer than Shiming despite having lost to him twice previously and being expected to do so again.

In fact, the champion believes he has an advantage over Shiming as well and certainly does not view himself as anything other than the favorite, per Alladin.

We will fight as professionals. It's a much different game than amateurs. The rules are different. I have been a professional a year longer than Zou. I am more experienced and I have a longer reach than him. You will see how I will fight come March 7.

Ruenroeng is still undefeated, but each of his past two victories have come by split decision. If he wants to defeat a fast-rising star like Shiming, then there is no question that his performance level will have to rise significantly Saturday.

About Shiming

Shiming is still a beginner in terms of being a professional boxer with just six contests under his belt, but expectations are already through the roof for the 33-year-old star.

While conventional wisdom suggests that Shiming could be feeling the pressure since he'll be fighting in front of his home fans and is viewed as a potential international face of boxing, he claims that just the opposite is true, according to a Top Rank Promotions press release (h/t Boxing247.com).

Expect me to be champion. This will be the biggest test for me. I am very calm, not nervous. I have been prepared for this moment for a long time. I am focused on myself — on executing Freddie's gameplan. I felt a lot more pressure when I was in the Olympics. This time the pressure is on Ruenroeng.

Shiming has an interesting point of view, but it could very well help him Saturday. If he doesn't believe that there is pressure on his shoulders, then it should be much easier for him to let loose against Ruenroeng.

One thing that bears watching, though, is Shiming's inability to finish opponents thus far. He has just one knockout win to his credit as a pro, and trainer Freddie Roach wasn't pleased that his most recent fight against Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym went to the scorecards, per Top Rank Boxing on Twitter:

Shiming won that bout by unanimous decision, but he is fully aware of the importance of erasing all doubt:

Since neither fighter has ever been knocked out professionally, a knockout victory for Shiming or Ruenroeng may be a long shot.

With Shiming being urged to finish and Ruenroeng remembering his controversial loss to Shiming in the past, though, it will be interesting to see if they let their hands fly and go for the gusto.

Prediction

Ruenroeng and Shiming are similar in so many ways that it is difficult to imagine this fight being anything other than a tightly contested encounter.

They are quite familiar with each other as well, which means both fighters should know what to expect. Although they have certainly evolved since last meeting five years ago, natural tendencies usually remain the same.

One person who expects a decisive victory in Shiming's favor, though, is fellow flyweight boxer Brian Viloria:

The 34-year-old Hawaiian's take is an interesting one since the fight looks relatively even on paper, but it is entirely possible that Shiming will come through with a virtuoso performance knowing that he is due to make a major statement.

Ruenroeng certainly won't go down without putting up some resistance, but look for Shiming to prevail on the scorecards with another unanimous decision and take another step toward superstardom in the process.

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