Runqi Zhou made sure to temper her enthusiasm after her biggest win to date.
The reinvigorated featherweight went up a notch in the ninth round on Oct. 26 of Ubayd Haider in Nadi, Fiii. Zhou (8-2-1, 3 knockouts) applied relentless pressure before forcing a stoppage at 2:31 of the ninth round.
It was the second straight win for the 24-year-old Chinese boxer, after going 0-2-1 in his previous three fights. However, any thoughts of celebration were put to rest when Haider (10-2, 6 KOs) was driven through the frame. The 25-year-old Fijian southpaw is being monitored in the ICU ward at Lautoka Aspen Hospital.
“Let’s send good vibes for my Fijian boxer Ubayd Haider’s health and speedy recovery,” Zhou said afterwards. “I would like everyone to pray.”
Meanwhile, the “Fist-of-Fury” project is otherwise moving forward hopefully for the first time in years.
This fight was Zhou’s second in less than two months since he moved to Australia. The move was deemed necessary as his career has been stuck in a holding pattern since the beginning of last year. The two losses gave him eight points to leave him without a win in the second half of 2023.
Zhou made changes across the board after losing to Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov last November in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He changed his residence, his ring, management team and weight class.
Now campaigning at featherweight and managed by Tony Tolj’s Dragon Fire Boxing, things are finally on the upswing.
“Runqi Zhou is now breaking through with the song ‘Fist of Fury’ and for good reason,” Tolj told The Ring. “He doesn’t stop punching. Runqi worked hard on his body and took the lead getting a TKO in the 9th round.”
The victory came seven weeks after Zhou held off Richard Lockett in a six-round decision. The September 7 fight was Zhou’s first with Dragon Fire, his current stable consisting of the Moloney twins—Jason and Andrew—and strawweight contender Alex Winwood.
“You’re only in Australia and you’ve had two wars,” Tolj noted. “Lockett defeated world ranked Jackson England and nearly lost to WBO and IBF #1 Sam Goodman.
“The thing that stands out about Fist of Fury is that he has no rookie fights and at 24 years old he has an amazing future. I’m very excited about his future, he’s definitely one to keep on the radar.”
