Notebook: Zayas ready to fulfill his dreams, Top Rank's plans
22-year-old faces red-hot Jorge Garcia for vacant WBO 154 title in Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry fight; Shields defends heavyweight crown; Ennis, Matchroom extend deal; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Xander Zayas was just 16 when he signed with Top Rank and became the youngest fighter to ink with legendary promoter Bob Arum, who put on his first fight in 1966 — Muhammad Ali’s heavyweight championship defense against George Chuvalo.
In the United States, boxers cannot have their pro debut until they are at least 17, and even that generally requires a special waiver from a state commission. Zayas, who was 118-14 as an amateur, received one and made his pro debut at 17 as a welterweight in October 2019.
Nearly six years after he signed, the 22-year-old Zayas has developed just as he and Top Rank had hoped. He has put in the work and Top Rank has taken its time to expertly develop him.
Now, he and the company believe he is ready for a world title and he will get that opportunity against red-hot Jorge Garcia for the vacant WBO junior middleweight belt in the main event of the final Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Saturday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET; prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET) at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“It’s the biggest fight of my career, fighting for a world title, something that I’ve been working for since I’m literally five years old, since I started boxing,” Zayas told Fight Freaks Unite. “That’s a dream of every fighter — to become a world champion and I have my opportunity. But in the other sense, it’s just another fight, another night at the Garden.
“I’ve been there before, so nothing new. I got to go in there, do my job, stay focused, make the adjustments, and then come out victorious.”
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Zayas, a Puerto Rican living in Sunrise, Florida, has become a Garden regular and a popular draw in New York’s Puerto Rican community. He will fight in the Garden main arena or the smaller Theater for the eighth time and in the Theater for the fourth consecutive fight, but this time for a world title.
Zayas seems to be handling the big moment well. He appears and sounds relaxed yet excited for his opportunity he has dreamed about. That sense of professionalism is not lost on Arum, who has seen countless young fighters reach this position but very few younger than Zayas.
“The thing that really stands out so much for me is he’s matured so much as a person,” said the 93-year-old Arum, who is in New York for the fight. “When young men are at the age Xander is at they’re not yet matured. They’re still kids. They’re still finding their way. He has really become a man. He’s still charming and smiles but there’s maturity about him that is very, very impressive. He’s become a very impressive young man. That’s what I want to emphasize.
“As far as the boxing part, we have I believe the best matchmakers in (Hall of Famers Brad) Goodman and (Bruce) Trampler. They take care of that, to bring him along with the right fights. Now he’s ready to fight for a world title.”
Zayas has won his share of regional belts during his rise but is anxious to claim world titles, which he calls “the big boy belts.”
“The WBO is the first one, so I’m really exciting and just happy to be in this place, in this position, at 22 years old,” said Zayas, who was Sebastian Fundora’s mandatory challenger and the sides were negotiating the bout.
However, Fundora, who was the unified WBO/WBC titleholder, vacated the WBO title and instead took a rematch against Tim Tszyu, who he knocked out in dominant fashion in last Saturday’s Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios co-feature.
Zayas was disappointed the Fundora fight did not happen but he said he understood Fundora’s business decision and hopes to face him down the road in a unification bout. When Fundora relinquished the WBO title it left Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) to face the next leading available contender in Garcia (33-4, 26 KOs), 28, of Mexico, who is on a roll. Garcia, who has never been stopped, has won eight fights in a row and is coming off the biggest win of his career, a 12-round split decision over then-unbeaten top contender Charles Conwell on April 19.
“He did deserve his victory against Conwell. He deserves his shot at a world title,” said Zayas, who added that about a year ago he had text conversation with his father, who predicted that when Zayas got his world title shot it would come against Garcia.
“We've been watching him and getting prepared for him because we knew at some point we’re going to be fighting him either for the world title or just another fight,” Zayas said.
Adding to Zayas’ excitement for the title fight is that it is Puerto Rico against Mexico, which is viewed by many as the greatest national rivalry in boxing.
“To be able to take part in one of those fights, a championship fight against a good Mexican warrior, somebody that is gonna come put pressure and gonna come try to take everything away from me, means a lot. It means the world to me because going back in the history of boxing and watching all those wars between Puerto Rico and Mexico was always exciting for all the fans and just to be able to be a part of that history means the world to me.”
And to have a rivalry fight be for a world title with the chance to join the pantheon of Puerto Rican champions such as Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto and so many others nearly takes Zayas’ breath away.
“I get goose bumps just from thinking about it,” Zayas said. “Obviously, something that I want to do. I want to bring glory to Puerto Rico. I want to stamp my name next to all those great legends from Puerto Rico and be a world champion. Just make my people proud, make my family, my team proud, and overall make myself proud.”
Shields defends heavyweight title
Hall of Famer Laila Ali recently said that for big money she would exit her 17-year retirement and fight Claressa Shields, which would undoubtedly draw considerable attention. Still, it seems like a long shot at best to happen, but either way, Shields has other business to attend to.
Shields, the two-time Olympic gold medalist, women’s pound-for-pound No. 1, four-division champion, three-division undisputed champion, and reigning undisputed heavyweight champion, will defend her crown against massive underdog Lani Daniels in the main event of a Salita Promotions card on Saturday (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, where the Flint, Michigan, native Shields is a popular draw.
Despite the long odds, Shields maintains that she is fully focused on Daniels (11-2-2, 1 KOs), 37, of New Zealand, the reigning IBF light heavyweight titlist and former IBF heavyweight titleholder seeking to regain that title and win the rest of the belts.
“I get up for all of my opponents because they want what I’ve got,” Shields said. “Lani Daniels is very humble, but she wants the car, the chains, and the recognition. Regardless of how friendly and nice she is, if she could beat me down and knock me out, she would do it.
“My only goal is to go in there on Saturday night and show Lani Daniels that if she wants it, she will have to go through hell to beat me. She is an alright boxer, but I am greater than great.”
Shields (16-0, 3 KOs), 30, easily outpointed Danielle Perkins in February to unify the four belts and become undisputed champion, albeit in a division with only a handful of competitors worldwide.
“The girls at the heavyweight division are not afraid of me, which is good because the girls who were a little bit smaller were intimidated,” Shields said. “Now at heavyweight, I am getting the bigger fights I want. I’m coming off a victory against an opponent who was highly avoided from everyone in the heavyweight division in Danielle Perkins. The only person who didn’t avoid Danielle Perkins was me. I went in there and whooped Danielle Perkins.”
Daniels has won seven fights in a row but will be fighting outside of her home country for the first time and has a very heavy lift in front of her.
“I love the challenge,” Daniels said. “I am soaking up all of this experience. I worked hard to be here and I am going to enjoy it. I am better at fighting than talking. I am about to fight the best woman on the planet. I am here for a reason and a purpose.”
In the 10-round co-feature, former WBC junior middleweight titlist Tony Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KOs), 34, of Detroit, who has not fought since Tim Tszyu knocked him out in the ninth round of an interim title bout in March 2023, will return to the ring in a middleweight bout against Edward Diaz (15-6, 12 KOs), 34, of the Dominican Republic.
“It has been a long time coming since I’ve stood on a podium and talked some shit,” Harrison said. “It’s time. I’ve been patiently waiting in the back of the wing for an opportunity to present itself. (Promoter Dmitry) Salita gave me that opportunity.
“I’m not starving for money, but I love the sport of boxing. I am here to let my hands do the talking and have fun.”
‘Boots’ extends with Matchroom
Jaron “Boots” Ennis has signed “a long-term multi-fight promotional extension” with promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, Matchroom Boxing announced on Friday.
“Working with Eddie and Matchroom is just a great connection,” Ennis said. “I love how they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make me a superstar. I’m ready to get going at 154 pounds and I am hunting the big names and the belts. Now it’s time to shut everybody up.”
Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs), 28, of Philadelphia, signed with Matchroom Boxing in 2024 and has won his three bouts with the company. He won the biggest fight of his career most recently, when he dominated, dropped and stopped Eimantas Stanionis in the sixth round to retain the IBF welterweight title and take the WBA belt from Stanionis in their unification fight on April 12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Since then, Ennis has vacated the IBF title and is expected to soon do the same with the WBA title as he has announced he is moving up to junior middleweight.
“I’m delighted that Jaron has committed himself to Matchroom and DAZN,” Hearn said. “Since we first started working with him last April, we’ve proved together that he is one of very few fighters in the U.S. that can draw huge crowds in the arena, with the three events we’ve staged with Jaron pulling in well over 30,000 fans at the gate, and that’s added to big numbers on DAZN. I’m so excited to see ‘Boots’ set about the 154-pound division, where you are going to see a different beast and his full arsenal on display.”
BetUS Boxing Show
If you missed the final regularly scheduled BetUS Boxing Show live at 1 p.m. ET on Friday please check out the replay. It’s been a great three-year run and on our last show we previewed and picked the top two bouts on Saturday’s final Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card: Xander Zayas versus Jorge Garcia for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title and Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington against Mateus Heita for the vacant WBC interim featherweight title. We also took viewer questions and comments and discussed the latest boxing news! Please check out the show here:
Quick hits
Weights from New York for the Top Rank card on Saturday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET; prelims on ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET): Xander Zayas 154 pounds, Jorge Garcia 153 (for vacant WBO junior middleweight title); Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington 125, Mateus Heita 124.8 (for vacant WBC interim featherweight title); Emiliano Vargas 139.6, Alexander Espinoza 139.4; Rohan Polanco 146.6, Quinton Randall 146.8; Juanmita Lopez De Jesus 113.8, Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez 114.8; Yan Santana 124.8, Aaron Alameda 125.6; Steven Navarro 115, Cristopher Rios 114.4; Julius Ballo 132.6, Brandan Ayala 130.2.
Weights from Detroit for the Salita Promotions card on Saturday (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET): Claressa Shields 174.6 pounds, Lani Daniels 170.4 (for Shields’ women’s undisputed heavyweight title); Tony Harrison 159.2, Edward Diaz 159.4; Pryce Taylor 278.2, Robert Simms 258; Samantha Worthington 138.4, Victoire Piteau 139.2 (for vacant WBA women’s interim junior welterweight title); Caroline Veyre 125.4, Licia Boudersa 125.4 (WBC women’s featherweight eliminator); Leon Lawson 159, Ryan Wilczak 162.8; Da’Velle Smith 168.2, Martez McGregor 168.4; Cameran Pankey 124.6, Dominique Griffin 124.4; Jaquan McElroy 159.4, Joshua Flores 158.2; Kahmel Makled 174.6, Devario Hauser 175.8; Sardius Simmons 215.1, Demetrius Banks 200.4.
Weights from Bournemouth, England, for the Queensberry Promotions card on Saturday (DAZN, 2:30 p.m. ET): Ryan Garner 129.5 pounds, Reece Bellotti 129.6 (for Garner’s European and Bellotti’s British and Commonwealth junior lightweight title); Aloys Youmbi 199.3, Ellis Zorro 198.6; Carl Fail 153.9, Amir Abubaker 153.6; Tony Curtis 114.8, Charles Tondo 116.5; Taylor Bevan 167.7, Zdenko Bule 170.4; Mason Payne 154.5, Octavian Gratii 151.7; Hassan Ishaq 123.2, Brandon Gallardo Vargas 124.1; Frank Wood 130.7, Cesar Ignacio Paredes 130.6.
The Teiken Promotions card headlined by WBC/WBA flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (25-1, 16 KOs), 33, of Japan, defending against Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (26-2, 18 KOs), 26, of Rialto, California, on Wednesday at Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan, will stream in the United States and the United Kingdom on DAZN (5:50 a.m. ET) in a late addition to its schedule. Typically, Teiken world title cards would stream on ESPN+ in the U.S. through its relationship with Top Rank, but with Top Rank’s deal with ESPN expiring on Thursday and not being renewed, no plans were made to pick up the coverage.
Former junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas (36-4-2, 24 KOs), 33, a southpaw from the Philippines, will face Ruben Dario Casero (13-4, 5 KOs), 32, of Uruguay, in an eight-rounder at 124 pounds on a MarvNation card Aug. 2 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, Sean Gibbons, Ancajas’ adviser, told Fight Freaks Unite. Gibbons hoped to place Ancajas on last week’s Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios card in Las Vegas but that fell apart over issues with the Nevada commission on opponent approval. Ancajas, who made nine defenses of his 115-pound title during his 2016 to 2022 reign, has won two fights in a row since a ninth-round knockout challenging then-WBA bantamweight titlist Takuma Inoue in February 2024. Gibbons said the goal is to eventually get a junior featherweight title shot.
Matchroom Boxing has announced undercard bouts for the Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan rematch for the vacant IBF welterweight title on Sept. 13 (DAZN) at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In the co-feature, junior middleweight Ishamel Davis (13-2, 6 KOs), 30, of England, looking to rebound from consecutive losses to Serhii Bohachuk and Josh Kelly, will face Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko (17-0, 7 KOs), 28. Female bantamweight Molly “Meatball” McCann, 35, of England, a popular UFC fighter, will make her pro boxing debut against a foe to be named. Belfast welterweight Tyrone McKenna (24-6-1, 7 KOs), 35, will face Dylan Moran (19-3, 9 KOs), 30, a fellow southpaw from Ireland, in a rematch of McKenna’s second-round KO in win in December. Also, two English prospects, cruiserweight Pat Brown (3-0, 3 KOs), 25, and middleweight Aaron Bowen (6-0, 4 KOs), 26, will be in action.
Junior featherweights Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores (20-1-1, 16 KOs), 26, a southpaw from Coachella, California, and Jorge Chavez (14-0-1, 8 KOs), 25, of San Diego, fought to a majority draw in the main event of the Golden Boy “Fight Night card” on DAZN on Thursday in front of Flores’ fans at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. One judges scored it 97-93 for Chavez but the other two judges each had it 95-95. “Majority Draw? What were the judges watching? They were probably looking down the whole time,” Chavez said. Said Flores: “It takes two to tango. If someone’s gonna run all night, it’s gonna be hard to fight somebody. We’ll run it back anywhere.”
Show and tell
“The Monster” Naoya Inoue had already won world titles in three divisions, including having become the first undisputed bantamweight champion in 50 years in his previous fight courtesy of a one-sided 11th-round knockout of Paul Butler, before moving up to junior featherweight. For his debut in the weight class Inoue went after the unified WBC/WBO titlist Stephen Fulton Jr., the consensus No. 1 fighter in the division. Many thought Fulton had a good chance to hand Inoue his first loss when he traveled to fight the Japanese superstar in Tokyo, but he got smashed. Inoue pummeled and pounded Fulton into an eighth-round knockout as Inoue won a title in a fourth division and moved to 20-0 with 18 knockouts in world title fights.
Fulton wasn’t even competitive and Inoue led 69-64, 69-64 and 68-65 at the time of the knockout. Inoue would go on to knock out IBF/WBA titleholder Marlon Tapales in his next fight to become the undisputed champion at junior featherweight. The fight with Fulton, arguably Inoue’s best win to date, took place on July 25, 2024 — two years ago on Friday. Here is a program in my collection.
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Photos: Zayas-Garcia and Carrington-Heita: Mikey Williams/Top Rank; Shields-Daniels: Stephanie Trapp/Salita Promotions
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I fear Ennis and the rest of 154 will avoid Murtazaliev like the plague. Hope im wrong. Ennis will probably find himself ranked high by the WBA and fighting for the vacant belt whenever bud vacated. A down the road unification with Zayas would be fun.
Dan Rafael!! The P4P Champion of Boxing Wriers circa 2025 🥊🥊🥊