Xu to defend WBA belt in China
Print Edition
China’s first World Boxing Association champion Xu Can will make the maiden defense of his gold belt in China in May, his promoters announced in Shanghai yesterday.
Xu stunned defending champion Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico in Houston, Texas, in January by unanimous decision to become the WBA featherweight champion in a 12-round bout. It was also the first WBA belt won by a Chinese. The 25-year-old Jiangxi Province native became China’s third world champion after Xiong Chaozhong and Zou Shiming.
Two months after his victory, Xu received his specially tailored gold belt in Shanghai yesterday, which was presented to him by WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza and multiple world champion Oscar De La Hoya. The belt is embossed with Xu’s bust.
“To have a tailored belt like this is the kind of treatment for great boxers like (Filipino Manny) Pacquiao,” said Mendoza. “This shows the WBA’s recognition of Xu, who won China’s first WBA belt.”
Xu’s performance in Houston was witnessed by De La Hoya, who runs the sport promotional firm Golden Boy Promotions. De La Hoya has reached an agreement with Xu’s local promotion company, Beijing-based Max Power Promotions, and will arrange Xu’s first title-defense fight in May. Max Power Promotions owns an M23 team with contracted boxers like Xu, Xiong and Japan’s Sho Kimura, who beat Zou in Shanghai two years ago for the World Boxing Organization flyweight title.
“The first defense is very important for a boxer, which will be held in China. We will look for a very suitable opponent for him,” De La Hoya said.
“When I was watching Xu’s fight in Houston, there were a lot of Chinese sports fans there who used to support (basketballer) Yao Ming (who played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets). We have big plans for Xu in the future, and my initiative for this trip to China is to plan ahead (in the Chinese market). My company will start bringing more boxing events to Chinese mainland and Macau.
“Chinese boxing is on the rise. Boxers have intelligence and the heart and love towards the sport. Xu Can is a positive example and inspiring story for China’s young boxers,” the American added.
Xu found his interest in boxing at a very young age. With support from his family, he started training at a boxing club in Yunnan Province at the age of 14. He turned professional in 2013 and began showing his acumen. Xu is considered a “smart technical” boxer who is good at counterattacks, though his aggressiveness is yet to improve. He now boasts a 16-2 record with 2 knockouts.
“I don’t think I am the torch-bearer for China’s boxing yet,” a modest Xu said in front of a media throng. “I just know that I am doing the right thing in a sport I love, and I will try to go further.”
Boxing is still a niche sport in its early development stage in China. Xu’s M23 team has announced that Chinese sports brand 361 Degrees has become the team’s sponsor and will take care of boxing kit supply.
“We know boxing is a niche sport here, but any niche sport has a big market in China considering the population,” said Zhu Minjie, vice president of 361 Degrees Group. “Chinese sports fans tend to watch competitions more than take part in them. We think it’s the right time to enter the market and will put more effort in technical research for future products.”
M23 boxers, including Sho, will take part in a Sino-Japan boxing competition at Putuo Gymnasium tomorrow evening.
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