Xu Can to defend IBO International super-featherweight belt to Jaouad Belmehdi

Xu Can vs Jaouad Belmehdi IBO title fight scheduled for August 15

Chinese former world champion Xu Can will fight Jaouad Belmehdi of France in Beijing, China on August 15 to defend his IBO International super-feather title.

"Of course, I have experienced defeats and gone through periods of setbacks and faced doubts," Xu said.

Back in January 2019, Xu defeated Jesus Rojas by unanimous decision at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, to win the WBA featherweight belt. He became the third boxer from the Chinese mainland to win a major title after Zou Shiming and Zhilei Zhang.

Xu defended the belt twice before losing it to Leigh Wood of England by 12th-round TKO in July 2021. He then won 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," Can said. "I am truly grateful for the experiences of these past 10 years and, most importantly, for the companionship of everyone throughout this journey."

"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," Xu said of Belmehdi. "He is a worthy adversary, and I am leaving nothing to chance in my preparations."

Belmehdi, 27, current keeps a 23-1-3 record with 11 knockouts and ranks second in the super-featherweight category in France.

The Frenchman has won seven in a row since his sole defeat to Irishman Gary Cully in 2022.