Xu Can becomes China's first five-star male boxer

The latest rating on the professional boxing website BoxRec has raised Xu Can into the five-star category, making him the first male boxer in China to reach the highest ranking, reports sports.qq.com.

Xu made history in January in Houston when he defeated Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico to take the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title after an action-packed 12 rounds. Xu Can is China's first WBA champion and the third Chinese boxer to win a professional world title.

Chinese boxer Xu Can (center) celebrates after defeating Jesus Rojas of Puerto Rico in their WBA Featherweight title fight at the Toyota Center on January 26, 2019 in Houston, Texas. [Photo: VCG]

The 24-year-old began his career at the age of 16. He is now China's youngest gold belt winner.

BoxRec is the world's most influential boxing data website. Around 20 boxers in Asia have a five-star rating.