This isn’t the opportunity Xander Zayas was hoping for. It’s the opportunity he earned.
Six years ago, Bob Arum and Top Rank inked a headline-stealing deal with then-high school student Xander Zayas. However, he wasn’t just any high school student. He was a barefaced teenager with fast hands, great instincts and a smile that could light up a room. Oh yeah, he could fight as well.
Over the last half decade and change, Zayas has climbed every rung of Top Rank’s developmental lader, beating the likes of Patrick Teixeira and Damian Sosa along the way. However, the Top Rank standout can only be a developmental signee for so long. Tonight, Arum and Top Rank put one of their most coveted assets on the line in the final event of their current broadcast deal with ESPN.
When Zayas stands in the ring on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in New York, New York, he won’t find a former champion or a journeyman standing in the opposite corner. He’ll see Jorge Garcia Perez, a former hot dog stand owner from Mexico who has battled through the ranks in pursuit of a world title. In his last outing, he took out then-unbeaten contender Charles Conwell. Much like Zayas, Conwell possessed a pristine amateur record and a boatload of talent, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the hungry Mexican fighter. However, his performance against Conwell does little to scare away the likes of Zayas.
“This Saturday, Puerto Rico will have a new world champion at 154 pounds,” Zayas told Garcia at the final pre-fight press conference.
Zayas will be put into a position where he’ll either have to back up his words or be proven wrong. If he does the former, he’ll be a world champion for the first time in his blossoming career. If he does the latter, Garcia will be one of the more unlikely champions in a stacked weight class. The world will find out which outcome will become reality when Zayas and Garcia battle for the vacant WBO Super Welterweight Championship on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in New York, New York at 9 p.m. EST on ESPN.
Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jorge Garcia Perez (33-5, 26 KOs)
Division: Super Welterweight
Prediction: Zayas def. Garcia (UD, 12)
Betting Odds: Zayas (-500) | Garcia (+350)
Commentary: During the final pre-fight press conference, Xander Zayas told Crystina Poncher, “Top Rank and my team have prepared me for this moment. We always said that when we would fight for a world title, we would do it when we were ready to fight for it and win it.” Tonight, he proved his team and Top Rank to be correct. In a fight with a fearless and upset-minded Jorge Garcia Perez, the Puerto Rican phenom was at his best, sharp in every punch he threw and as exciting as he’s ever been. Jorge Garcia Perez was dogged in his approach to this fight, stalking Zayas out of the ring. As the fight wore on, Garcia found more success, but his inability or unwillingness to throw punches in bunches consistently plagued him. While he never touched the canvas and came to fight in every round, Zayas proved to be too dynamic, too quick, to clever and too gifted for the frustrated, yet tough Mexican fighter. In the end,
Result: Zayas def. Garcia (UD, 12 — 116-112, 118-110, 119-109)
Bruce Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) vs. Mateus Heita (14-1, 9 KOs)
Division: Featherweight
Prediction: Carrington def. Heita (TKO, 11)
Betting Odds: Carrington (-5000) | Heita (+1400)
Commentary: As a kid, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington fought at Madison Square Garden in hopes of becoming a Golden Gloves Champion. Tonight, he fought at the world’s most famous arena and became a world champion. The fight started out with both boxers fighting at a moderate pace, but things gradually turned in Carrington’s favor. Early on, Heita would push the action, but Carrington quickly made him pay by slipping back and blitzing him with counter right hands every time he reached in. As a result, the Brownsville boxer was able to build up a big lead, landing 36 more punches than Heita through nearly six rounds. The fight wore on and it was more of the same — Carrington countering and dictating the rules of engagement. Short of getting the knockout, Carrington looked as good as he ever has in his first world title opportunity.
Result: Carrington def. Heita (UD, 12 —
Emiliano Fernando Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) vs. Alexander Espinoza (20-4, 9 KOs)
Division: Super Lightweight
Prediction: Vargas def. Espinoza (TKO, 8)
Betting Odds: Vargas (-1600) | Espinoza (+850)
Commentary: Prior to tonight’s main card, Emiliano Vargas said, “My last fight ended quickly, as well as the fight before that.” As fate (or the power of Vargas’s pull counter) would have it, his 15th fight would turn out to be shorter than the previous two. When a fight ends within one round, it’s difficult to provide any commentary other than “Wow, he’s really f—g good,” so I won’t try to. Tonight’s takeaway? Emiliano Vargas is really f—g good.
Result: Vargas def. Espinoza (KO, 1)
Rohan Polanco (17-0, 10 KOs) v. Quinton Randall (15-3, 3 KOs)
Division: Welterweight
Prediction: Polanco def. Randall (TKO, 8)
Betting Odds: Polanco (-1800) | Randall (+900)
Commentary: Randall may not have the promotional backing or receive the media attention that others in and around the welterweight division may, but he’s proven to be a tough out for Brian Norman Jr. and now, Rohan Polanco. Early on, the now 18-bout veteran moved often, used faints and leveraged his left hand as a distance setter. In moments where everything was going his way, he was able to flash the jab, keep Polanco at the end of his punches and control the pace. However, those moments were tough to find at certain points of the fight. While Polanco may appear to take his foot off the gas more than one would like, he was able to break out of his shell guard to land a leaping left hand and right hook that repeatedly caught Randall’s attention. Polanco didn’t dominate the fight by any means, but he made Randall respect his power and had the more eye-catching highlights throughout the fight. Most importantly, he was consistent. Polanco was aggressive in round one and he was aggressive in round ten, but his punches did get a little bit wider was the fight wore on. To Randall’s credit, he was extremely disciplined throughout the fight, but if he had taken a few more chances, he could’ve caught Polanco with a right hand as he was lunging in. Then again, he could’ve gotten dropped as well. In the end, Polanco walked away with the decision.
Result: Polanco def. Randall (UD, 10 — 100-90, 99-91, 97-93)
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (3-0, 2 KOs) v. Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez (5-3, 4 KOs)
Division: Super Flyweight
Prediction: Lopez De Jesus def. Gonzalez-Sanchez (UD, 4)
Commentary: There’s not much to say. It’s unclear how many times Lopez De Jesus officially dropped Gonzalez-Sanchez, but it’s certain that he hurt him ealry and often. Lopez De Jesus was faster, more explosive and just all-around better on this given night. On to the chief bout of the undercard: Rohan Polanco v. Quinton Randall
Result: Lopez De Jesus def. Gonzalez-Sanchez (TKO, 2)
Yan Santana (15-0, 12 KOs) v. Aaron Alameda (30-3, 17 KOs)
Division: Featherweight
Prediction: Santana def. Alameda (UD, 10)
Betting Odds: Santana (-700) | Alameda (+450)
Commentary: From the opening bell, it was abundantly clear that Santana was the younger, faster, longer and harder hitting of the two in the ring. As a result, he was able to seemingly land at will early on and force the doctors to examine Alameda in the corner. However, as the fight went on, Santana seemingly left a few things to be desired. Most notably, Santana was landing flush against Alameda’s head and upper body frequently, but he didn’t appear to invest in an attack to the body. Therefore, Alameda, with toughness and experience, was able to last the full ten rounds and be somewhat competitive in the eighth and ninth rounds. In the end, Santana dominated the fight, but he probably could have stopped Alameda if he worked him to the body more. All in all, Santana was impressive and proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with at this stage in his development.
Result: Santana def. Alameda (UD, 10 — 100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
Steven Navarro (7-0, 5 KOs) v. Christopher Rios (11-3, 7 KOs)
Division: Super Flyweight
Prediction: Navarro def. Rios (UD, 8)
Betting Odds: Navarro (-3000) | Rios (+1200)
Commentary: Heading into tonight, Bruce Carrington was the biggest betting favorite at -5000. Behind Carrington, who was the second biggest betting favorite? Steven Navarro, a highly touted super flyweight prospect under the Top Rank banner. However, the fight proved to be nothing like what the sports books projected. Rios pushed Navarrao, targeting his body and being as physical as possible at every turn. Not to mention, Navarro was forced to work through a cut above his eye. However, he was able to pull through and walk away with the close decision win, improving to 7-0
Result: Navarro def. Rios (UD, 8 — 77-75, 77-75, 77-75)
Julius Ballo (1-0) v. Brandon Ayala (2-1, 1 KO)
Division: Featherweight
Prediction: Ballo def. Ayala (UD, 4)
Commentary: Julius Ballo, a 15-time amateur national champion, is expected to blossom into a standout pro, but expectations are just that — expectations. However, Ballo looks to be the goods. While his performance in the second round left a little bit to be desired, Ballo proved to be a talented pro prospect with speed, athleticism and precision. After throwing everything, but the kitchen sink at Ayala through four rounds, he earned a unanimous decision victory from the judges. With Top Rank still working toward a broadcast agreement with a new partner, it’s unclear when Ballo will be back on our TVs and smartphones screens, but when he does, we’ll have something to look forward to.
Result: Ballo def. Ayala (UD, 4 — 40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Note: All odds listed obtained from DraftKing Sportsbook on Saturday, July 26 at 5 a.m. EST
