After successfully claiming his first ever world title as a professional boxer, the newly crowned WBO featherweight king Zou Shiming has now set his sight in defending his belt and looks to challenge opponents of other established boxing organizations.

"Everybody has different dreams at different stages of life," Zou, who was also a three-time Olympic Games podium finisher, told reporters in Shanghai, China.

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"Now that my dream of becoming a world champion has come true, a new dream starts. To defend the title and challenge opponents of other organizations are part of my future plans," the 35-year-old fighter, who has a nine-month time to fight for his first title defense, added.

Basing from the report of Sky Sports, Zou victoriously prevailed over Prasitsak Phaphrom of Thailand with a convincing unanimous decision triumph in an undercard world title bout of the Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas match last November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. He impressed all the three judges of the match who scored the bout with 120-107, 120-107, and 119-108 in favor of the Zunyi native.

The famous Chinese athlete became the country's first world champion in the field of the professional boxing. Zou had also been a three-time gold medalist in the World Amateur Boxing Championships in the years 2005, 2007, and 2011.

He won three consecutive Olympic Games medals; took the bronze in 2004 Athens, Greece; and secured the gold in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games before turning pro in January 2012.

According to Shanghai Daily, Zou has been named co-promoter of the domestic boxing tournament League of Fists, which is a joint venture of the Bob Arum's Top Rank and Chinese marketing firm SECA.

The League of Fists brings together homegrown local talents from around the country to compete in different weight classes. The Chinese professional boxing tournament offers the winning competitor the right to take home the WBO China Champion belt and collect WBO points that is needed in obtaining access in international bouts.

TagsZou Shiming, WBO, Olympic Games, Top Rank, pacquiao vs vargas, Bob Arum