Xu Can becomes China’s third world champion boxer after defeating Jesus Rojas by unanimous decision
- Boxer follows in the footsteps of Xiong Chaozhong and Zou Shiming in winning world title
- Xu says he can beat anyone and that his power comes ‘from China’
Chinese boxer Xu Can has become the country’s third world boxing champion after defeating Puerto Rico’s Jesus Rojas in Houston, Texas.
The win came by unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 116-112) to secure an upset over the full 12 rounds.
Saturday’s bout was only Xu’s second in the US and his first world title shot, but he took it to follow in the footsteps of Xiong Chaozhong and Zou Shiming in becoming a world champion.
Xiong held the WBC minimumweight title from 2012 to 2014 while double OIympic champion Zou won his first title in 2014 and held it on and off until 2017.
Xu won the WBA’s “regular” title, the secondary belt to the organisation’s “super” title.
“I respect my opponent Rojas, my friend, he is very, very tough, very strong punch, but I know I can win,” the Fuzhou native said in his post-fight interview in the ring, which he conducted in front of a flag of China.