Puerto Rico’s shooting star Xander Zayas faces the biggest fight of his career: WBO world championship against Mexican Jorge Garcia in the Big Apple.
The countdown is on: On Saturday, July 26, the next high-class fight will take place in the legendary Madison Square Garden. The 22-year-old Xander Zayas, the figurehead of Puerto Rican boxing, will fight for his first world title in the light middleweight division (WBO). His opponent: the powerful Mexican Jorge Garcia, who is considered a real knockout artist with 21 knockouts from 25 victories.
For Zayas, it is not just a world championship fight, but also a home match: he has already been in the ring seven times in the “Mecca of Boxing” – but never has it been more important than now. “I’m ready for this moment, I’ve worked my whole life for this,” explained Xander Zayas in the run-up.
Fight Week brings several highlights: The final press conference on July 24 and the official weigh-in on July 25 will be broadcast live on Top Rank’s social media channels. On fight night itself, the preliminary program will start at 6 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+, the main fight will start at 9 p.m. ET – however, the fight will only be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
The co-main event is about the WBC interim featherweight title. Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington meets the unbeaten Namibian Mateus Heita. Emiliano Fernando Vargas also returns in a junior welterweight fight against Alexander Espinoza. Fans can therefore look forward to a top-class Fight Night – with three title fights and the possible breakthrough of a new superstar.
Text by Robin Josten