Xu Can vs Leigh Wood joins Benn-Granados on July 31st

Out of action since November 2019, WBA “regular” featherweight champion Xu Can tells China Daily that he’s set to face British champ Leigh Wood on Matchroom’s July 31st Fight Camp card, headlined by Conor Benn vs. Adrian Granados.

Xu, who has been training in Miami, Florida with his Cuban coach Pedro Diaz since March, shrugged off Wood’s home advantage, saying: “Whatever opponents I have to fight and wherever I need to be, my goal is always the same-that is to bring the belt back to China.”

“Now that the Briton wouldn’t dare to leave his home, I will come knocking on his door.”

Xu (18-2, 3 KO), who’s defended his belt twice since taking it from Jesus Rojas in January 2019, was previously linked to a unification clash with Josh Warrington that collapsed in absolutely spectacular fashion. After an initial COVID-borne delay, the WBA’s refusal to elevate Xu to “super” champion despite Leo Santa Cruz not defending his belt in two years prompted the IBF to order a rematch between Warrington and Kid Galahad. Warrington vacated his belt as a result and looked to stay busy against Mauricio Lara, who wound up battering him into the dirt.

On Xu’s side, the article claims he’d signed to fight Emilio Sanchez on June 13th before “issues over the broadcasting times derailed the matchup.” He looks to have a much tougher task against Wood (24-2, 14 KO), who rebounded from a narrow loss to Jazza Dickens in the Golden Contract tournament by pasting Reece Mould in February.

In addition to this fight and the main event, the card will also see Tommy McCarthy take on Chris Billiam-Smith, Anthony Fowler meet Roberto Garcia, and Avni Yildirim look for redemption against Jack Cullen.