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Fanlong Meng & Jean Pascal Meet In
Light Heavyweight Showdown May 20
The sweet science is about to experience a revolutionary
change, and it all starts with two action-packed battles in
the light heavyweight and featherweight divisions.
ProBox TV, the first and only global sports streaming and
media company dedicated exclusively to the sport of
professional boxing, will host its first live broadcast on
May 20 as IBF No. 1 Contender Fanlong Meng (17-0, 10 KOs)
and former two-time world champion Jean Pascal (35-6-1, 20
KOs) meet in a 12-round clash for a top spot in the
175-pound division.
In the co-feature, former champion Xu Can (18-3, 3 KOs)
makes his highly anticipated return against rugged Mexican
warrior Brandon Benitez (18-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout
that is guaranteed to produce a war.
Ticket and undercard information for the event will be
announced shortly. The entire event will be streamed live on
ProBox TV from the Company’s Events Center in Plant City,
Florida.
Meng is a 34-year-old southpaw who has been craving for a
meaningful challenge. He made his professional debut in 2015
following a decorated amateur career where he represented
China in the 2012 Olympic Games. Since then, he has captured
two regional titles, the WBO Oriental and the IBF
Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Titles. The native of
Chifeng City, China is eager to step up in opposition in
order to put himself in line for a world title. But in order
to do so, he’ll have to take on the toughest, most dangerous
test of his career against a former world champion.
“I’m so excited to get back in the ring and face former
world champion Jean Pascal on May 20,” said Meng. “This
fight is so unique for a lot of different reasons. It's my
first time as the main event fighter. It’s the first time I
face a former world champion, and it’s the first time we
will live stream in China so that 1.5 billion people can
support. It’s also my first time fighting on ProBox, my home
turf. I’ve been training very hard here in Florida. Camp has
been great. I can’t wait to put on a good show.”
Pascal is generally considered to be one of the top light
heavyweights of the past 15 years. In 2009, he defeated
Adrian Diaconu to capture the WBC Light Heavyweight World
Title. He defended it twice before capturing the IBO Light
Heavyweight World Championship in a unification fight with
Chad Dawson.
Pascal eventually lost the belts in a 2011 rematch to Hall
of Famer Bernard Hopkins, but had world title opportunities
during the next few years against the likes of Sergey
Kovalev and Dmitry Bivol. He will need to defeat Meng if he
wants to remain a player in the division, and if age is a
significant factor, then that means he’ll need to resort to
using power and strength to stop the younger man early.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Pascal. “I’m back with
a lot to prove and a fire under my ass. This fight with Meng
is a great opportunity for me to get right back where I
belong, the top of the division. He’s a good fighter. He’s
undefeated for a reason, but he’s never been in with anybody
like me. After this fight, he and Ahmed Elbiali will have
something in common, losses to me in Florida in fights his
people should have never made.”
Can is a former world champion who is known for his volume
punching and relentless action. The native of Fuzhou, China
captured the WBA Featherweight World Title with a unanimous
decision victory over Jesus Rojas in January 2019. He made
defenses against Shun Kubo and Manny Robles III before
losing the belt against Leigh Wood in July 2021.
Can will look to bounce back against a tough challenge in
Benitez, a 24-year-old native of Queretaro, Mexico whose
only losses have come against undefeated boxers. Benitez
will enter this fight coming off a four-fight win streak.
“I’m excited to return to the ring in this tough fight
against Brandon Benitez,” said Can. “Fans know my style.
They know that I like to throw lots of punches. So when it’s
a fight between me and a Mexican warrior like Benitez, you
know it will be a war.”
“I am ready and excited for this opportunity to face a
former world champion,” said Benitez. "This is the
opportunity I've been fighting for all my life. I know it
will be a difficult fight where there’ll be a lot of punches
thrown, but I will be in great shape to not only throw more
than my opponent, but also to win convincingly.”
In addition to this double main event, ProBox TV subscribers
will be treated with an innovative tournament series titled
“Last Chance.” Additional details will be announced shortly.
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