China boxer survives Australia attack, divorces wife over failure to protect her

SCMP | Oct. 26, 2025, 2 a.m. | Original
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A Chinese boxing champion who, along with his wife, was attacked in Australia, says he is going to divorce his partner because he failed to protect her. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

A violent attack on a Chinese boxing champion and his wife in Australia left the fighter in a coma and his partner with multiple bruises.

The athlete later decided to divorce the woman, saying he had failed to protect her.

Born in central China’s Henan province, 25-year-old Zhou Runqi started out in martial arts before turning to boxing.

In 2023, he clinched the WBC Asia super flyweight title with a knockout win in Thailand, making him China’s first continental champion born in the 2000s.

Zhou Runqi was stabbed in the head with a sharp object during the violent attack, leaving him in a coma. Photo: Weibo
Zhou Runqi was stabbed in the head with a sharp object during the violent attack, leaving him in a coma. Photo: Weibo

A fallout with his management team sidelined his career in China and Zhou and his wife relocated to Australia last year to rebuild and chase his boxing dreams.

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