Xander Zayas Secures World Title with Dominant Victory
Xander Zayas has officially arrived. The 22-year-old, long regarded as Puerto Rico’s next boxing standout, became the sport’s youngest active world champion on Saturday night after defeating Mexico’s Jorge Garcia Perez by a clear unanimous decision over 12 rounds to claim the vacant WBO junior middleweight title.
Zayas, who turned professional at 17 and has steadily progressed through the ranks, delivered on years of potential in front of a lively crowd at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. The bout added another memorable moment to the long-standing rivalry between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters.
Garcia proved to be a tougher challenge than anticipated. The unorthodox opponent disrupted Zayas early with aggressive charges and physical tactics. But Zayas adjusted, relying on sharper timing, footwork, and speed to take control. He landed crisp counters and combinations, systematically wearing Garcia down while maintaining composure. The sixth round saw intense exchanges, with Zayas getting the upper hand in the center of the ring.
Though Garcia tested him—landing a solid left hook in the third and rallying late in the 10th—Zayas responded each time with discipline. The judges scored the fight 119-109, 118-110, and 116-112 in his favor. (CuriosityNews scored it 117-111.)
“This is about growth,” said Zayas after the fight. “Everyone has watched me since I was 16, and they’ve seen my progression. Tonight was no different. He came to fight, and we stuck to our plan, keeping him at distance and frustrating him.”
Garcia (33-5, 26 KOs), who earned this opportunity after an upset win over Charles Conwell in April, showed resilience but struggled to counter Zayas’s skill and composure. According to punch statistics, Garcia landed 130 of 603 punches (21.6%), while Zayas connected with 199 of 522 (38.1%).
For Zayas (22-0, 14 KOs), this victory culminates a journey that began in a San Juan gym, where his mother enrolled him to defend himself against bullies. By 10, he was already eyeing a professional career. His development accelerated after moving to Florida, where he trained under Javiel Centeno, a protégé of legendary coach Angelo Dundee.
“My mom is my hero,” Zayas said. “This is all because of her. She never gave up on me and always believed I’d be a champion. She made everything possible.”
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