NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 08: (LR) Xander Zayas punches Patrick Teixeira at the NABF and NABO Jr. … [+]
Xander Zayas put on another professional and hard-working performance Saturday night at the Hulu Theater in New York City.
Zayas scored a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Patrick Teixeira to move one step closer to contending for a world title fight. The 21-year-old Puerto Rican has been in The Big Apple with his fans all week and will remain in town for Sunday’s Puerto Rico Day parade.
Zagias delighted the fans with a victory over the former champion in a fight that was never contested. The judges scored the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91, all in favor of Zayas. Body punches were again the primary factor in Zayas’ victory.
This approach has become a staple of his game and he went to the body often against Teixeira. Zayas enjoyed a huge speed advantage over Teixeira, who looked a step slower than we’ve seen him in the past.
Zayas walked forward, stalking the lean and awkward opponent, and the former never looked overly concerned with any of the punches Teixeira fired at him. In the 10th round, Zayas, who had turned up the heat looking for a stoppage, got a little sloppy and ate a couple of punches from the veteran.
While they caught Zayas’ attention, he wasn’t injured, and Teixeira’s momentary success didn’t deter the Puerto Rican from continuing to progress.
After the fight, Zayas called out several fighters at 154 pounds, including Erickson Lubin, Josh Kelly and Vito Mielnicki, as potential opponents in his next fight.
Zayas isn’t likely to be the one to decide his next opponent, but it’s great to hear he’s willing to take on three potentially interesting fighters in his next fight.
If Zayas stays on the same schedule, he could return for a fight in September, which could land around his 22nd birthday on September 5. Assuming all goes as planned, Zayas could fight again in 2024 in December.
If the right opportunity presents itself, the fight in December could be for a world title.
If not in December, Zayas almost certainly looks like a shot for a title shot until June 2025. Stay tuned.
In the co-main event, Bruce Shoo-Shoo Carrington made easy work of Brayan De Gracia.
Carrington, an undefeated featherweight with his eyes on Naoya Inoue for a huge potential fight, scored the eight-round TKO with the Japanese superstar in the crowd. Carrington turned to Inoue and bowed out moments after the win, and it’s clear that an angle is brewing between the two lower division stars.
In the end, the two young headliners and co-headliners took care of business as they served as the draw for an ESPN Top Rank card that followed UFC Louisville.
