Zou fights to save eyesight, career

SHANGHAI: China’s two-time Olympic boxing champion Zou Shiming on Friday came out fighting from severe eye problems that look likely to end his career, declaring defiantly: “I’m still me.”

The 36-year-old, who lost the first defence of his WBO flyweight world title in July, sought immediate hospital treatment last month after suddenly losing much of the sight in his left eye.

Zou and his team said he has now left hospital in Shanghai and there has been some improvement in his vision, but it is still too early to say if he will ever return to the boxing ring and he will need more treatment.The boxer was admitted to hospital suffering what the state Xinhua news agency said were problems with both eyes, including orbital fractures.