Chinese featherweight contender Xu Can 16-2 (2) scored a surprising upset over highly regarded WBA featherweight champion Jesus M Rojas 26-3-2 (19) after 12 fast-paced rounds at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday night.
In the main support bout to WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia’s title defence against Takeshi Inoue, the defensively astute and light-hitting Can fought an aggressive fight to score a comfortable points decision win by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112.
The crowd-pleasing slugfest appeared much closer than the official scorecards suggest.
“This is my second time coming to the USA to fight,” said Can. “Before I came here, I knew it was going to be a very hard fight. So I got ready for this fight. I did a lot of work for this. So, thank you to everyone.”
Can blended offense and defence seamlessly in what was just his second fight on US soil.
“I respect my opponent, Rojas, my friend; he’s very tough. But I knew I can win. I can! I can! I knew I can defeat this fighter,” continued Can.
“I knew I can defend his punch, even though his punch is very strong, but I had confidence in my defense. I just punched, defend, punched, defend, punched, defend.”
The judges’ scores didn’t sit well with Rojas, who said he believes he deserved to get the win.
“I don’t feel the decision was correct,” said Rojas. “I don’t know what to say. I’m surprised. I spoke to Golden Boy Promotions, and I want the rematch. I think we worked well. I used my jab and I want the fight. Of course, I want the rematch!”
Can was coming off an eight round split decision win over Mexican journeyman Enrique Bernache 24-12 (12) last September.
 scored a surprising upset over highly regarded WBA featherweight champion Jesus M Rojas 26-3-2 (19) after 12 fast-paced rounds at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday night.){kind=link}