Zayas, 22, Conquers World Title: New Youngest Boxing Champion

Xander Zayas, although not the first Puerto Rican boxer to feel at home in New York, managed to stand out on Saturday by becoming the youngest current world champion. He achieved this after obtaining the vacant WBO super welterweight title, thanks to a dominant decision victory over Jorge García Pérez at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. In his eighth fight at the Garden, Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) controlled the fight from the start, using his agile footwork and counterattacks to neutralize the offensive, although strange but powerful, of García Pérez. As Zayas adapted to his opponent’s rhythm, he kept his distance, even when García Pérez, cornered after receiving a combination, tried to get closer. When García Pérez managed to shorten the distance, Zayas tied him up. The three judges awarded the victory to Zayas (116-112, 118-110, 119-109). García Pérez, 28 years old and originally from Mexico, saw his streak of eight consecutive victories interrupted. In the last 30 seconds of the sixth round, Zayas finished an exchange with a right hand that made García Pérez (33-4, 26 KOs) stagger against the ropes. García Pérez regained his composure, but Zayas continued to punish him. Although García Pérez seemed to be losing strength, he had a good eighth round, connecting more combinations. However, in the ninth, Zayas avoided damage and responded with his own combinations. He maintained control during the rest of the fight, connecting a high percentage of punches and making García Pérez miss. According to CompuBox, Zayas landed 50 jabs and 19 more power punches than García Pérez, despite throwing 81 fewer punches. García Pérez landed 22% of his total punches and 24% of his power punches, while Zayas landed 38% of his total punches and 45% of his power punches. Zayas also led in body shots, with a 59-31 advantage.

It’s incredible. It’s incredible to represent Puerto Rico at the highest level and put the pride of my island where it belongs: at the top.

Zayas

Zayas, the most recent Puerto Rican boxer to win the super welterweight world championship, is 22 years and 324 days old. The next youngest champion is welterweight Brian Norman Jr., with 24 years and 245 days.

Other Featured Results

In the co-main event, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington claimed the WBC interim featherweight title, following a unanimous decision victory over Mateus Heita. Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) was the favorite, and he showed it. After a relatively even first three rounds, Carrington began to connect body shots and headshots with his right counterpunches. Heita took several solid blows to the head in the middle rounds, but was not knocked down. His activity decreased, and Carrington intensified the attack, dodging most of Heita’s punches. Carrington threw combinations until the last second, and the judges rewarded him with a unanimous decision (120-108, 119-109, 119-109). It was Heita’s first career defeat, leaving the 27-year-old Namibian boxer with a 14-1 record in his first fight outside of Africa. Carrington is ranked number 6 in the featherweight rankings. After receiving his interim belt, Carrington focused his attention on WBO champion Rafael Espinoza, who was ringside. “I see you in the crowd,” Carrington said, pointing at Espinoza. “I want you, brother. You already know. My team has called your team. I want to fight.” In Saturday’s fight card, Emilianio Vargas, son of former super welterweight champion Fernando Vargas, improved his record to 15-0 with a knockout in 42 seconds over Alexander Espinoza in the super lightweight division. It was Vargas’s sixth consecutive knockout and the thirteenth of his career.