Xander Zayas is a world champion for the primary time at 22 years outdated. Zayas outworked Jorge Garcia for the vacant WBO junior middleweight championship on Saturday evening, taking a unanimous choice for the vacant title.
The combat was by no means in dispute, with Zayas not solely outboxing Garcia but additionally touchdown the cleaner energy punches from the opening rounds. Garcia, who entered the combat at 33-4, was unable to satisfy Zayas (21-0, 13 KO) on even floor from the opening rounds.
The combat by no means felt a lot in query, however Zayas’ win arrange a possible unification bout with towering WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, who’s coming off a dominant TKO victory of Tim Tszyu the earlier Saturday, his second victory over the highly-regarded Tszyu.
The opposite champions at 154 kilos are WBA champion Terence Crawford, who’s shifting as much as tremendous middleweight to problem undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Fundora and IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.
With Saturday’s win, Zayas turned the youngest energetic world champion at 22 years and 330 days.
After 12 rounds of motion, the official scorecards learn 116-112, 118-110 and 119-109, all in favor of Zayas.
“Man, [I’ve dreamed of this] since I am 5 years outdated,” Zayas stated after his win. “It is superb. It is superb to be right here and signify Puerto Rico on the highest degree. And to only put the delight of my island the place it belongs. The place it belongs, on the high.
“… Boxing 101, I needed to field my solution to victory. I knew that if I stood in right here, I used to be going to combat his combat. I knew that if I stood in there, I used to be going to combat his combat. That jab, that jab was the important thing to victory, and we confirmed that right now.”
The hope is that Zayas will be capable to make a unification bout with Fundora, organising an enormous unification bout.
“Sebastian Fundora simply fought final week,” Zayas stated. “I gave my coronary heart and soul to in search of an opponent. I am prepared in December.”ger fights down the street.