Xu, Meng facing big challenges

Two of China's top ring generals are primed to expand their respective commands in a couple of boxing's most competitive divisions.

First up is WBA featherweight champ Xu Can (16-2, 2 KOs), who is making his first title defense on Sunday in his hometown of Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, taking on Japanese challenger and former WBA super bantamweight titleholder Shun Kubo (13-1, 9 KOs).

Then on June 1, unbeaten southpaw light heavyweight Meng "Cold Blood" Fanlong from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia (14-0, 9 KOs), will face Germany's Adam Deines (17-0, 8 KOs) in an IBF world title mandatory elimination bout in Macao.

Xu became the third Chinese boxer after retired Xiong Chaozhong (WBC strawweight) and two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming (WBO flyweight) to win a major world title when he outpointed Puerto Rico's Jesus Rojas by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 on Jan 26 in Houston, Texas.

The 24-year-old, who trains at Beijing's M23 Boxing Club, dominated Rojas with a two-fisted attack highlighted by lightning four-and five-punch combinations.

Along with superb lateral movement, the sheer volume of Xu's punches kept the shorter Rojas at long range for most of the fight, and the Puerto Rican was punished with uppercuts on the rare occasions he bulled his way inside.

It will be difficult for Xu to replicate a similar fight plan against southpaw Kubo, who at 5-foot-9 is as tall and rangy as the champion.

"I am Can, so I can. This is a great chance for me to defend the world title in my hometown," Xu said when the fight was signed last month. "Shun Kubo is a good opponent and a tough boxer, but I am determined to keep the golden belt in China,"

The 29-year-old Kubo took the WBA super bantamweight crown from Venezuela's Nehomar Cermeno in Tokyo on April 9, 2017, then lost it five months later when he was stopped by American Daniel Roman in his first defense.

Kubo moved up to featherweight last year, and in his first test at 126 pounds he beat compatriot and current No 1 contender Hiroshige Osawa.

Sunday's co-main event will feature Japan's Sho Kimura (18-2-2, 11 KOs) challenging WBA light flyweight world champion Carlos Canizales (21-0-1, 17 KOs) of Venezuela.

Meanwhile, June 1 looms as the most significant fight to date for Meng, who represented China at the 2012 London Olympics. A victory over Deines would make him the No 1 mandatory challenger for the IBF world title held by Russia's Artur Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KOs).

"I'm beyond excited to be fighting for the IBF Intercontinental title in Macao against a very tough opponent and, most importantly, for the IBF world title eliminator," the 31-year-old Meng said when the fight was announced.

"If I win, I become the top challenger to the current world titleholder. But I am not looking past Deines. He is a very strong opponent and I give him a lot of respect for taking this fight. I will do my thing one step at a time.

"My training camp has been fantastic. I'm in great shape and skill level. I can't wait for June 1 so everyone can see me shine once again."

The bout will be Meng's first since he stopped Britain's Frank Buglioni to capture the IBF Intercontinental belt last November.

"I'm elated that Meng is getting a chance to prove he is an elite light heavyweight, which is one of the hottest divisions in boxing," said Roc Nation promoter Dino Duva.

"I've been working with Meng since I first met him on the Chinese national team over 10 years ago. He has a very tough opponent in Deines, but he has worked very hard and I'm confident we will prevail.

"I want to thank the IBF, IBF China and Longjoy Sports for staging this great event and giving us this chance. It's going to be a great night of boxing."