Chinese boxer Zou Shiming makes it into Guinness World Records 2019

Chinese boxer Zou Shiming posted on Weibo on Wednesday to announce that he was listed in the Guinness World Records 2019 as the person who has won the most Olympic gold medals in men's light flyweight boxing.

Zou Shiming of China poses after his unanimous-decision victory over Prasitsak Phaprom of Thailand during their WBO flyweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shiming captured the WBO flyweight championship.[Photo:VCG]

"I am so honored to be listed into Guinness World Records. I hope such glory and approval can help my promoting campaign for boxing and lead more to fall in love with the sport. The Chinese version of 'Guinness World Records 2019' will be available for purchase soon, and I want to share with you my passion," Zou posted on Weibo.

Zou played in men's light flyweight boxing at three Summer Olympics respectively in 2004, 2008 and 2012. Having won the Bronze medal in Athens, he then took the gold consecutively in Beijing and London, which made him a world record holder.

Then at the age of 32, Zou turned to professional boxing in 2013 and signed a contract with boxing promotion company Top Rank. Then on April 6, 2013, he beat Eleazar Valenzuela by unanimous decision in his debut fight. His first professional knockout win happened on February 22, 2014, in the seventh round against Yokthong Kokietgym.

On November 5, 2016, Zou defeated Prasitsak Phaprom from Thailand by unanimous decision to win the WBO flyweight title vacated by Juan Francisco Estrada who moved to super flyweight.

Zou was appointed as the ambassador of Special Olympics in East Asia on Wednesday. When asked about this new job of his, Zou said: "I hope that more people can understand that boxing is not just about fighting but also a skill to protect ourselves… and it can contribute a lot to body-building and self-protection."