MACAU — Bob Arum learned something about Chinese boxing fans earlier this year at his company’s first fight card in Shanghai, where the crowd yelled and cheered for the home country boxers all the way up until the main event.
Then, with no Chinese fighter in the ring, they suddenly went quiet.
“There was nothing,” Arum said. “Halfway through the fight half the crowd walked out.”
That they stayed long shows Chinese fans are at least starting to understand a sport once banned in the country. That wasn’t the case in April 2013 when two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming made his 112-pound pro debut and professional boxing made its debut in this gambling enclave.
“The first show we did with Zou you could have heard a pin drop,” the longtime promoter said. “They didn’t know how or when to cheer or seem to understand much about it.”
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Things were much louder Sunday morning when Zou was the featured undercard fighter as Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring in the main event to win a lopsided decision over Chris Algieri. The arena at the massive Venetian resort was filled with bleary-eyed gamblers long before the main event.
“The fact it’s on in the morning doesn’t seem to matter,” said Ed Tracy, president and CEO of the Venetian. “Most of them have been up all night anyway.”
On part of the state sanctioned CCTV network, millions tuned into a broadcast that, unlike in the U.S., was free of charge.
If boxing isn’t exactly exploding in China, there’s little doubt it’s beginning to find its own niche. Pacquiao and Algieri helped fill hotel rooms at the Venetian over the weekend and bring in millions of dollars in extra revenue from visitors as eager to spend money in the resort’s lavish shopping mall as they were in the crowded casino.
Zou has fought all five of his pro fights at the Venetian, and reportedly has drawn the attention of Chinese president Xi Jimping.
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