Runqi Zhou revitalized career by moving from China to Australia

Featherweight Runqi Zhou left his homeland of China five months ago to move to Australia to train with the Moloney Brothers – Jason and Andrew. 

The decision paid off on January 8 when he upset previously unbeaten Australian Tony Ingram on the undercard of Jai Opetaia-David Nyika. That fight took place at Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia. 

Zhou, 24, moved with his wife to Australia in the middle of last year. Once he arrived he didn’t have any intentions of going back to China. He found a team that complimented his training and was helping him grow. His trainer, Angelo Hyder, began to guide his career and assist him.

“For my fight I felt very good,” Zhou said. “I am learning a lot with my new team. They are helping with my defense and my coach teaches me every day.”

Zhou entered the fight as a sizable underdog. That didn’t hinder Zhou who came with a will to win. Zhou is on a three-fight win streak and has gone 3-2-1 with his new team and manager Tony Tolj. Prior to working with this team, Zhou was not fighting often. He fought twice in 2022 and 2023. Tolj told BoxingScene that Zhou is one of the most unique fighters he has ever worked with, noting that he won’t eat until his manager and coach have been served. After his victory, Tolj explained that he bought the team gifts. He even took the team out to dinner after the victory. It appears Zhou found a sense of purpose with his new team. Before he was taking hard fights and training, but the outcomes were unpredictable. Now, Zhou is working with a trainer who has created titleholders and is eager to work with him. 

“Jason Moloney and Andrew Moloney, they are my brothers,” Zhou, 9-2-1 (3 KOs), said. “Angelo Hyder trains me every day. The way he taught me was the way I fought.”

Zhou reflected on how Australia is his new home and this was his first time fighting there. Zhou had many people come out to his fight. Something that was a contrast from previous fights.

“This is my first time fighting in Australia,” Zhou said. “My wife and many friends came to watch my fight. I’m so happy. This is the first time that happened. Before only one person came to see me fight in my own country.”

Lucas Ketelle took an unconventional path to boxing, eventually finding his stride in gyms and media. For the past decade, he has hosted the “Lukie Boxing” podcast, filmed training camps for fighters like Arnold Barboza Jnr, Mikey Garcia and Caleb Plant, and worked with top professionals such as Mike Bazzel. Ketelle is also an author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for ProBox TV, BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @LukieBoxing.