Xu boxes clever

Xu Can successfully defended his WBA featherweight title for a second time on Nov 23 with a unanimous decision against American Manny Robles III in California to cap a whirlwind year for the fighter known as "Monster". Xu (pictured right) became China's first WBA champion by dethroning Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico by unanimous decision in Houston, Texas, in January. Four months later, he retained his belt in his hometown of Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, by defeating Japan's Shun Kubo via technical knockout. The second defense has particularly enhanced Xu's credentials, with his promoter saying the boxing world has now really taken notice.