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Xander Zayas Becomes Boxing’s Youngest Active World Champion on ESPN’s Final Top Rank Card

The Puerto Rican phenom captured the vacant WBO junior middleweight title by unanimous decision over Jorge Garcia Perez in New York.

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Overview

  • Xander Zayas, 22, outboxed Jorge Garcia Perez to claim the vacant WBO junior middleweight title by unanimous decision (116-112, 118-110, 119-109), ending Garcia Perez’s eight-fight winning streak.
  • Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington claimed the interim WBC featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Mateus Heita, with judges scoring the bout 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109.
  • Emiliano Vargas underscored the night’s emerging talent by scoring a first-round knockout in just 42 seconds against Alexander Espinoza.
  • The event marked the conclusion of ESPN’s eight-year partnership with Top Rank, closing out its final boxing broadcast on the network.
  • After his victory, Zayas called for unification bouts with WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and interim titleholder Vergil Ortiz Jr., signaling the next phase of his championship reign.