Monster's on the hunt for title shot

"Looking back at the setbacks, I feel like it was just part of the process of my growth as a pro," said Xu, a 31-year-old native of Fuzhou, East China's Jiangxi province.

"Perhaps, I've had too smooth of an early career to be true, progressing on a flat path all the way until losing the belt. Now, I have just started the uphill climb. I am taking steps slower than before, but I am making solid progress — one step at a time," said Xu, who beat Panama's Jhonatan Arenas via TKO in his most recent fight in December, claiming the vacant IBO 130-pound international title.

Standing 1.75 meters tall with impressive range, Xu has built a reputation for high-volume punching and superior endurance during his featherweight reign. However, learning from his defeats, he realizes that striking power, timing and finesse are the keys for success in the super featherweight realm, should he make a convincing run for a world title in the heavier, and more competitive, division.

Supported by his agency Max Power at Beijing gym M23, Xu, who keeps a 20-4-0 win-loss-draw record, has been focusing on his strength conditioning, footwork and combination diversity to prepare for the fight against Belmehdi (23-1-3), a knockout specialist known as "The Moroccan Bomber "and who is currently rated at three stars on BoxRec.

"Can is a very good boxer, but I am very confident of my skill. See you on August 15 for an explosive fight," said the 27-year-old Belmehdi, who's chalked up 11 KO wins.

Justin Kennedy, vice-president of IBO, said the winner between Xu and Belmehdi will move closer to a shot at the division's ultimate prize.

"This is going to be a great event in the heart of Beijing, in a country that is moving forward rapidly in world boxing with a lot of really world-class fighters coming through," Kennedy said in a video message played at the news conference launching the event on Tuesday.

"The fight between these two highly skilled fighters will be a great display of boxing. Please tune in and turn up for what will be an amazing night."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn