Zou reveals softer side after bloody battle

Chinese boxer Zou Shiming's left eye was swollen and needed four stitches after beating Thailand's No 1-ranked Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym. Although badly hurt, his first thought was to comfort his child, saying to camera: "Baby, I am fine and I love you".

The online video triggered Chinese citizens' pride in Zou being "a true man". Many users of Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, commented that they are proud of him after defending his World Boxing Organization international flyweight crown.

Zou posted on his Weibo account that after the bout he and his opponent met up in the medical room to get the stitches and that he had thanked his Thai rival for being so strong. He said they fight in the ring and understand each other outside it. He posted a selfie of the pair.

The title bout, at Macao's Cotai Arena, did not only attract Chinese attention, with many international celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, at ringside.