VOA慢速英语2014 中国拳击战士改变美国拳击面貌

（单词翻译）

AS IT IS 2014-07-28 Chinese Fighters Changing Face of US Boxing 中国拳击战士改变美国拳击面貌

The face of heavy weight boxing is changing in the United States. 

Two Asian boxers² have entered the ring. Chinese Olympic medal winner Zhang Zhilei is training on the East Coast.  Another Chinese boxer¹, Taishan Dong, just won his first professional fight in the United States.

A Mountain of a Man

His name is Jianjun Dong.  But in the boxing ring, he is called Taishan.  Taishan is a famous Chinese mountain.  And at 127 kilograms and 211 centimeters tall, Taishan looks like a mountain of a man. 

In Asia, he is a top non-professional, or amateur³, fighter.  The 26-year-old is also a former kick boxer.  And recently he started his professional career as a heavyweight boxer with a fight July 18th in San Francisco, California.  Taishan Dong defeated Andy Rozman just a few minutes into the action.

VOA’s Mike Sullivan spoke⁴ with the young boxer at his training place in Los Angeles, California.  Mr. Dong said he came to the United States to better his future in boxing.

The United States is strong in sports, a world leader.  I hope to move to a higher level.  America offers many opportunities to realize my dreams and reach my goals.”

Taishan Dong may be one of the tallest boxers ever. And he is powerful.  But he is still new as a professional fighter. 

Taishan Dong works⁵ on his hitting with trainer, John Bray⁶.  Mr. Bray himself is a former heavyweight boxer.  He said the Chinese fighter has possibility.

“I think that he’s a young, eager heavyweight that’s very teachable.  The heavyweight landscape is wide open, as you know, and he’s going to fare very well.”

Taishan Dong is not the only up-and-coming Chinese heavyweight boxer. 

Zhang Zhilei will have his first heavyweight professional fight in the western state of Nevada this summer.  He is now training in the northeastern state of New Jersey⁷.  Mr. Zhang won a silver medal in boxing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Both young men face cultural and language barriers.  Taishan speaks little English.  But he told VOA that he works around it.

“I trained in sports since a young age in China. Spoken communication is a big barrier in the United States.  But I can work with my trainer using body language.” 

His trainer John Bray does not speak Mandarin⁸.  But he said he and Mr. Dong both “speak boxing.”

Lately, Taishan Dong has more on his mind than just fighting. He and his wife Gege are new parents.  Their daughter Harper was born four months ago in Los Angeles. 

Taishan and Zhang Zhilei are both skillful⁹ young fighters.  They both hope to change the face of U.S. heavyweight boxing.  It is one American sport that includes few Asian faces.