Can Xu, Carlos Canizales retain WBA belts in China

Badlefthook.com

Can Xu looked terrific today in Fuzhou, China, successfully defending his WBA “world” featherweight title with a sixth round stoppage of Japan’s Shun Kubo.

While Kubo (13-2, 9 KO) is certainly no world-beater, he is a former titleholder at 122 pounds, and Xu (17-2, 3 KO) just picked him apart today, dropping Kubo in the fifth round on a a three punch combo — a left, a right, and another left from the southpaw — and finishing him off with another assault in the sixth, with referee Gustavo Padilla stepping in to stop the fight.

Kubo just had no answers for Xu today, and the Chinese featherweight, who started his career just 3-2 and has gone on a really good run to get himself recognized in the featherweight division.

Carlos Canizales of Venezuela had a pretty dominant performance retaining his WBA “world” junior flyweight title over Japan’s Sho Kimura, winning on scores of 118-110, 119-109, and 119-109.

Canizales (22-0-1, 17 KO) was just plain better than Kimura in this fight, wearing him out over 12 rounds and leaving Kimura ragged and exhausted by the end. Canizales made Kimura use up a lot of energy trying to cut off the ring, which the Japanese fighter never did particularly successfully, and landed plenty of good, effective shots along the way.

It’s the sort of performance that would seem to make clear that Canizales is the real deal at 108, a true top fighter in the division. One would expect Kimura (18-3-2, 11 KO) to go back to flyweight after this.

Prelim Results

Wulan Tuolehazi MD-12 Ardin Diale (114-114, 115-113, 117-111)
Shichao Gao UD-10 Anurak Thisa (Nop Kratingdaenggym) (96-95, 96-94, 97-93)
Sophon Klachun (Rungsurin Saikaew Boxing Camp) SD-6 Hua Long Zhu (56-57, 57-56, 57-56)