Boxing: China's Xu Can to make first title defense in Jiangxi

World
Europe

01:02

China's first WBA champion, Xu Can, is preparing for his first title defense in east China's Jiangxi Province, putting the world featherweight title on the line against Japanese southpaw Shun Kubo on Sunday in his hometown of Fuzhou.

Xu, who goes by the nickname "Monster," claimed the title from Jesus Rojas on January 26, defeating the Puerto Rican by unanimous decision in the U.S. city of Houston.

Among the three Judges, Gloria Martinez turned in a score of 117-111, while Alfredo Polanco saw the bout at 116-112 and Ignacio Robles scored it 118-110 to award the victory to the Chinese pugilist.

Jesus Rojas (L) of Puerto Rico and Xu Can of China exchange blows during their WBA Featherweight title fight in Houston, Texas, January 26, 2019. /VCG Photo

The 25-year-old has compiled a record of 16 wins and just 2 defeats since turning professional in 2013. He's just the third Chinese boxer to win a professional world title, following former WBO flyweight champion Zou Shiming, and the man who once held the WBC minimum-weight belt, Xiong Chaozhong.

Xu will have lots of support for his clash with Kubo, a former WBA super bantamweight champ who has 13 wins and just 1 defeat, as more than 300 family members and friends will be in attendance at the arena in his native city.