Regeln » s point it is all co

Chinese boxer Zou Shiming Washington Wizards Jersey , front, poses during the weigh-in for Champions of Gold boxing event in Macao in this 18 July 2014 file photo. [PhotoIC]
Already the biggest name in boxing that the rest of the world has never heard of, China's Zou Shiming on Sunday could transform himself into the wild card that makes or breaks the richest event in sports history: a bout worth $1 billion.


Yup, you read it right－one billion Yankee greenbacks.


For that scenario to become reality, Zou (5-0, 1 KO) first has to defeat Thailand's No 1-ranked Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym (27-0-2, 12 KOs) in their International Boxing Federation flyweight title eliminator, with the winner guaranteed a shot at world champion Amnat Ruenroeng in 2015.


If Zou beats Onesongchaigym and World Boxing Organization welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) makes a successful defense against undefeated Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) in Sunday's main event at Cotai Arena in Macao, the stars will align for a long-awaited showdown between Pacquiao and unbeaten World Boxing Council champ Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) for the unified welterweight crown.


At this point it is all conjecture, but Zou's enormous popularity in China is the key to the mint. In terms of TV popularity the double Olympic gold medalist from Zunyi, Guizhou province, is the hottest property in the sport, with his fights drawing an average audience of about 350 million viewers nationwide.


As first reported by Britain's Daily Mail earlier this week, the linchpin of the projected billion-dollar bout between Pacquiao and Mayweather is a plan by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to make that fight－with Zou's title shot as the featured prelim－the first pay-per-view event televised in