Xander Zayas says he offers himself a “B+” after defeating Jorge Garcia by a 12-round unanimous determination to assert the vacant WBO junior middleweight title on Saturday evening at Madison Sq. Backyard Theater in New York Metropolis.
Xander Zayas’ Self-Grade: B+
Even with Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) staying on the transfer and holding continuously, he nonetheless received hit by quite a lot of pictures from Garcia (33-5, 26 KOs) that made it unattainable to grade his efficiency as a B+. There’s no query that Xander deserved the win, however he didn’t resemble world champion materials. The judges scored it 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109.
“I give it a B+,” mentioned Xander Zayas on the post-fight press convention when requested to grade his efficiency towards Jorge Garcia. “I’ll proceed to win and produce glory to Puerto Rico. A few of these guys can take a punch. I hold hitting them, and I’m like, ‘Go down.’”
That efficiency was at a lower-C degree. Zayes moved and held an excessive amount of for his efficiency to be rated as a B+. He’s principally saying that he placed on an A-level efficiency, and that’s not what followers say. Zander did an excessive amount of holding and shifting for it to be a excessive B.
“Total, I’ll proceed to get higher. My energy will proceed to get higher. My method will proceed to get higher,” mentioned Zayas.
Zayas’ Unchanging Combat Model
It’s extremely uncertain that Zayas will “get higher,” as a result of he’s fought with the identical type since he turned professional in 2019. He goes out of his manner to not get hit by working and hugging. That mindset received’t change. If he might change it, he would have by now.
Zayas’ lack of energy will maintain him again simply as a lot as his unwillingness to get hit. He can’t punch. By the point a fighter is 22, it’s observable whether or not they’ll be a puncher. If it’s not there at 22, it by no means will.
“I would sleep with this [WBO 154-lb title]. That is my child. I labored arduous for this. Six years as knowledgeable, and the arduous work lastly paid off. I instructed all people I used to be made for this. That this was my second, and we made it occur. Not simply me. My whole staff pushed me to the best degree, and I used to be prepared for something that Jorge Garcia might convey tonight,” mentioned Zayas.
Xander didn’t do any arduous work. Those that did the arduous work had been Zayas’ promoters at High Rank. They’re those who maneuvered Xander round, selecting beatable opposition.
Xander’s final 5 opponents
Slawa Spomer
Damian Sosa
Patrick Teixeira
Jorge Fortea
Roberto Valenzuela Jr
The WBO’s determination to rank Jorge Garcia at #2 relatively than the extra formidable Israil Madrimov, Erickson Lubin, Serhii Bohachuk, and Jaron Ennis. They ranked Garcia above these fighters, which is a weird transfer and obscure. If they’d picked Madrimov or Boots at #2, Zayas would have by no means received the WBO title. He’d have been worn out.
Boxing Information 24 » Zayas Grades His Efficiency a “B+” After Lackluster Title Win Towards Jorge Garcia
Final Up to date on 07/27/2025
