Zayas vs. Perez: WBO Gold on the Line, July 26th

Xander Zayas says he plans on defeating Jorge Garcia Perez to seize the vacant WBO junior middleweight title this Saturday, then look to make a direct unification battle subsequent towards WBC 154-lb champion Sebastian Fundora. The way in which Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) talks, it’s only a formality that he’ll defeat #2 Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) to seize the vacant WBO title.

Zayas vs. Perez Preview

Zayas-Perez will headline on July twenty sixth on the Madison Sq. Backyard Theater in New York Metropolis. The occasion might be proven dwell on ESPN and ESPN+ at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT for the primary card. Prelims start at 5:10 ET.

“I’m glad at 22. I’m combating for a world title. It’s one other battle, and I acquired to care for enterprise,” mentioned Xander Zayas to Sean Zittel about his battle towards Jorge Garcia Perez on Saturday. “It’s thrilling to listen to folks say they need me to be the subsequent man for Puerto Rico, and that’s one thing I need to do.”

It might have regarded higher if Zayas had overwhelmed some high quality fighters to earn his #1 rating, as a result of it simply appears like he was maneuvered into his high spot by crafty fairly than by placing him in towards A-level fighters to earn his place. Decide for your self. These are Xander’s final three opponents:

– Slawa Spomer– Damian Sosa– Patrick Teixeira

It’s not by chance that High Rank matched Zayas towards these fighters fairly than Vergil Ortiz Jr, Israil Madrimov, Serhii Bohachuk, or Yoenis Tellez.

“I need to convey glory to my island, however I need to convey glory to Xander Zayas. I don’t need to convey glory as the subsequent Tito or as the subsequent Cotto. I simply need to be myself,” mentioned Zayas.

There’s no method that Xander can turn into the subsequent Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad, or Wilfredo Benitez for Puerto Rico, as a result of he lacks punching energy and he has numerous rabbit in him. Zayas fights extra like a cross between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson. That’s not a praise both.

The rationale Zayas’ recognition hasn’t elevated is that his model isn’t entertaining. He’s a much bigger model of Haney. High Rank has been pushing Zayas onto the followers, hoping to show him right into a star, but it surely’s been a failure. He lacks that ‘it issue’ that followers are on the lookout for.

Zayas Unification Goals

“After I turn into world champion, we will nonetheless make the battle occur sooner or later,” mentioned Zayas about Sebastian Fundora. “I don’t assume it’s duck. He made a enterprise choice.”

It was an apparent alternative for Fundora to make. Go within the route of a pleasant payday in a rematch with Tszyu in a battle that followers wished to see, fairly than combating a lesser-known, defensive fighter for small cash in Zayas. If the Puerto Rican-born, U.S.-based Xander had been standard, it will have made sense for Fundora to battle him. He brings nothing to the desk.