Xu Can, WBA featherweight world champion. Photo Credit: Global Times.
Bang, bang, bang. The thudding of left hooks, the bobbing and weaving under the firing counterpunches, the ferocity. Children around the world were left fixated to their television sets every time ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson would compete.
Born in Suizhou in Hubei Province, China, the son of a baker grew up no differently. Current WBA featherweight world champion, Xu Can was introduced to boxing by his father as the pair sat down and watched Tyson.
“I felt so amazed when Mike Tyson knocked the opponent out,” said Can when recalling his earliest memory of boxing to proboxing-fans.com.