Chinese boxing sensation Xu Can is set to defend his International Boxing Organization (IBO) international super featherweight title against France’s Jaouad Belmehdi on August 15 in Beijing. The announcement was made by his promoter, the M23 boxing club, on Tuesday.
“Of course, I have experienced defeats and gone through periods of setbacks and faced doubts,” Xu acknowledged as he reflected on his boxing journey.
In January 2019, Xu made history by defeating Jesus Rojas at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, claiming the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight belt. This victory marked him as the third boxer from the Chinese mainland to secure a major international title, following in the footsteps of Zou Shiming and Zhang Zhilei.
Xu successfully defended his WBA title twice before facing a technical knockout (TKO) loss to England’s Leigh Wood in July 2021. Undeterred, he bounced back by winning the vacant IBO international super featherweight title with a TKO victory over Jhonatan Arenas in Nassau in December last year.
“The unwavering support and encouragement from my fans have kept the fire within me burning brightly,” Xu expressed gratefully. “I am truly grateful for the experiences of these past 10 years and, most importantly, for the companionship of everyone throughout this journey.”
Looking ahead to his upcoming match, Xu is fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead. “I know all too well that defending a title is even more difficult than winning it in the first place. My opponent is a tough competitor. He has an impressive record of 23 wins with only one loss,” he said of Belmehdi. “He is a worthy adversary, and I am leaving nothing to chance in my preparations.”
Belmehdi, 27, holds a professional record of 23 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws, with 11 victories coming by way of knockout. He currently ranks second in the super featherweight category in France.
Boxing fans around the world eagerly anticipate this high-stakes showdown, which promises to be an exciting chapter in both fighters’ careers.
