Fanlong Meng eyes 2019 world title shot

Fanlong Meng (14-0, 9 KOs), of Inner Mongolia, China earned the IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight title in his return the ring Saturday night, toppling England’s Frank Buglioni (22-4-1, 16 KOs) via a fifth-round TKO at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle Medecin in Monaco.

The bout was featured as the opening televised fight on an event that was promoted by Matchroom and aired globally on DAZN. The fight was action packed but ultimately saw bad cuts and punishment to Buglioni which caused the referee to end the match via TKO in the fifth-round.

With his victory over Buglioni, Meng is now the Light heavyweight IBF Intercontinental Champion and WBO Oriental Champion and has propelled himself to the top of the light heavyweight ranks.

“Fanlong has now established himself as a top light heavyweight championship contender and true force of the future in one of boxing’s most talented and high-profile weight divisions. He’s getting better and better with every fight. Our plan is to have him fight regularly and take it one step and opponent at a time to strategically prepare him to compete for the world light heavyweight championship, before the end of 2019.”

His next bout is expected to happen in early 2019.

Meng is promoted by Roc Nation.