Xu Can trains at a gym in Kunming, Yunnan province, on April 28. The WBA featherweight champion remains hopeful of taking on Briton Josh Warrington in a hotly anticipated unification bout this year. [Photo/Xinhua]
WBA titleholder bidding to become China's first unified world champion when action resumes
As well as lightning-fast reflexes and a vicious left hook, Xu Can is also blessed with patience.
The WBA featherweight titleholder says his focus on becoming China's first unified world boxing champion has not wavered during the sport's shutdown, and when ring action eventually resumes, he'll be ready to seize his chance.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak shut down all major sporting events worldwide, Xu, aka 'The Monster', was close to finalizing an eagerly anticipated featherweight unification fight against IBF champion Josh Warrington.
The mouth-watering matchup of two of boxing's most prolific punchers had been provisionally penciled in for May 30, with Headingley Stadium in Warrington's home British city of Leeds touted as the venue.
But despite some observers advising Xu to play it safe with another defense of his WBA crown, the Chinese brawler remains as determined as ever to face favorite Warrington, aka 'The Leeds Warrior', on the Brit's own patch.
"There has not been a unified featherweight champion for a long time, Warrington is strong with a tough style, so I know it will be a tough bout," the 26-year-old Xu told Xinhua recently.
"Yeah, if I want to keep the title for a little longer, I can just fight in China, but it will be meaningless. The unified championship is an opportunity for me, and I want to take it when I am still young."
Like most professional athletes, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted Xu's training schedule, with he and his entourage embarking on a three-month "tour" to find suitable venues for sessions.
"At first, we flew to Thailand after all the boxing halls in Beijing were closed down, but we finally returned to China when the virus emerged abroad," he said.
Xu Can gives his all in a sparring session with trainer Ren Hongbao in Kunming. [Photo/Xinhua]
With resources limited and some coaches absent, Xu and his team were forced to improvise in the gym.
"We had 10 boxers at that time but just one coach, so I would be accompanied by other boxers when I trained," explained Xu.
"They would point out my weaknesses, and in return I would also share my experience when I acted as the assistant."
After returning to China, Xu and his team were quarantined for 14 days in Yuxi, Yunnan province, where he continued to train in his hotel room as best he could.
"Some basic routines such as skipping, push-ups, and sit-ups didn't need that much space, I was able to complete them in my room," said Xu.
"Training is an inseparable part of my life, just like the meals."
It's been a whirlwind last few years for Xu, who hails from Fuzhou, Jiangxi province. In January 2019, he became China's first WBA champion by dethroning Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico by unanimous decision in Houston, Texas.
Xu retained his WBA belt in November by throwing an incredible 1,562 punches (landing 402 of them) during an absorbing contest against American challenger Manny Robles III via unanimous decision in California.
Xu knows he will have to live up to his 'Monster' nickname again to upset the odds against Warrington, who says he would reluctantly agree to a fight behind closed doors.
Xu has had to improvise his training schedule this year due to difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo/Xinhua]
UK uncertainty
Last month, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) said it was hopeful the sport will return in July, but suggested that only limited numbers of people will initially be allowed to attend shows.
"Initially, it is unlikely that crowd-attending promotions will be permitted," read a BBBofC statement on April 30.
"In that situation the emphasis will be on minimal numbers of officials, license holders, members of the promoters' teams and broadcasting personnel to facilitate a tournament that meets all BBBofC safety requirements.
"No tournament will be permitted to run unless the venue has been approved by the BBBofC post the government lockdown being lifted."
Warrington had hoped to fight in front his loyal fans at Headingley Stadium, the home of Leeds' professional rugby and cricket teams. Those home supporters had previously roared him on to glory when he upset the odds against Welshman Lee Selby to claim the IBF title at soccer club Leeds United's Elland Road ground.
But the 29-year-old admits that if promoter Eddie Hearn offers him a no-spectator fight this year he'll take it.
"If Eddie said, 'Listen, you're going to have to fight behind closed doors for a unification or you wait until next year but it's not going to happen', then I'd scoop up the unification fight," Warrington told the Press Association.
"I'd feel guilty a little bit because there are a lot of fans who have been coming since day dot and have not missed a single fight and there are a lot of fans who sacrifice a lot just to be there. It's an occasion, a lot of them feel like they're in there with me and I couldn't imagine having to force them to sit at home and watch it on the telly.
Xu is renowned for his energetic style in the ring, with the 26-year-old throwing an incredible 1,562 punches in his last bout. [Photo/Xinhua]
"I can imagine a few of them saying, 'Surely you can just get me in, Josh, and I'll stand at the back or something'.
"But if that's what it would have to be to make sure that we got the big fight then it would have to happen like that."
Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn on Wednesday said he is considering moving heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua's next fight against Kubrat Pulev, which was originally scheduled for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London in June, to the Middle East, possibly behind closed doors.
It's unclear if Hearn might explore this option for Xu's fight.
"These (Middle East) countries are going to be up and running a lot quicker than our country or America," Hearn told Boxing Social.
"Would Saudi (Arabia) or Dubai or Abu Dhabi be ready to stage an event in September or October? I think 100 percent."
