Unbeaten Chinese light-heavyweight contender Fanlong Meng returns this Friday in Florida
After a two-year absence because of the ongoing pandemic and all of the cancelled fights that it left in its wake, gentle heavyweight fringe contender Fanlong Meng will make his return to the ring Friday night time.
Meng will sq. off towards Israel Duffus on the Silver Star Area in Kissimmee, Florida.
The ten-round bout might be a part of an All Star Boxing Promotions card.
Meng (16-0, 10 knockouts), who’s initially from Chifeng, China, has not fought since October 2019, when he stopped overmatched Gilberto Rubio in Spherical 2.
The COVID-19 pandemic threw off plans for Meng to return to the ring within the first half of 2020 and fights that had been penciled for the latter half of the yr fell by as nicely.
Meng was scheduled to return to the ring on July 17 on a card in Tampa, Florida, however supervisor Terry Lane advised The Ring the cardboard was cancelled throughout struggle week attributable to a COVID outbreak within the space.
Lane was capable of attain a take care of promoter Tuto Zabala, Jr. to have Meng struggle on the ‘Boxeo Telemundo’ card.
“We’re excited to see him again within the ring,” Lane advised The Ring earlier this week. “He’s had the worst luck.”
Due to the inactivity, the IBF dropped him from their rankings. He was the obligatory challenger to face IBF titleholder Artur Beterbiev.
Duffus (20-6, 17 KOs), who’s initially from San Miguelito, Panama and now resides in Los Angeles, can be coming off a protracted layoff. He final fought on March 7 of final yr, defeating Samuel Clarkson by unanimous resolution.
The win over Clarkson snapped a two-bout shedding streak.
In the primary occasion, which is able to air reside on Telemundo (12 a.m. ET/ 9 p.m. PT), Victor Betancourt (27-3, 14 KOs) of Mexicali, Mexico will sq. off towards Puerto Rico’s Miguel Marrero (9-1-2, 4 KOs) in a 10-round light-weight bout.
No phrase if any portion or your complete Meng-Duffus struggle will air on Telemundo as nicely.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He could be reached by e mail at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing