Did Xander Zayas beat Vergil Ortiz Jr. just the other day. saved?

Xander Zayas says he said “Yes” to a fight against Vergil Jr. on February 22. Undefeated 154-lb contender Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) claims he was given an hour to decide, and he agreed “in one minute.”

It is admirable that Zayas agreed to face Vergil, but he is not ready for this. It doesn’t look like Zayas will ever be ready to fight a killer like Ortiz Jr, and it has nothing to do with age or experience. Xander lacks the spark to fight at an A level like Vergil or any other top fighter at 154. He is a finesse fighter of the Shakur form that moves, holds and does the minimum. That would be like a plate of food for a shark like Vergil Ortiz.

What Zayas lacks:

– Power
– Ken
– Courage
– Experience

Ortiz Jr. vs. Zayas: A Done Deal?

Zayas, 22, is not saying whether his promoters at Top Rank have agreed to him fighting WBC interim 154-lb champion Ortiz. While there wouldn’t be a weight issue that would prevent a fight between Zayas and Vergi, Xander’s age and lack of experience might make the Top Rank reluctant to make that fight. Until the promoters make it official, you should be skeptical.

Zayas is not a big puncher and looked below average in fights against Damian Sosa, Patrick Teixeira and Alexis Salazar Flores. Xander is ranked #1 WBO, #4 WBC, and #5 IBF. This high ranking was given to him based on victories over marginal opposition. To fight from Sosa and Teixeira to Vergil Ortz Jr. to fight will be a huge leap in competition.

Vergil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) needs an opponent for the Riyadh season card on February 22. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis chose not to take the fight to him. According to Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, the fight with Ortiz Jr. was written into the contract. would be at 147, not 154. He says Boots wants to unify the 147-lb division.

Ortiz Jr. cannot return to 147, a division he hasn’t fought at since 2022, and then deal with the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit. He would risk his health.

Is Zayas ready?

Top Rank tried to turn Puerto Rico-born Xayas into a star the same way they did with New Yorker Edgar Berlanga. They were which matches Zayas against tomato cans to develop him, and he didn’t show much promise. This is what you call ‘Fake development’ that was done with Xander.

He’s not ready for a fighter like Vergil or any of the other assassins at 154, and he may never be. He is another Berlanga type in terms of the way he is matched. Top rankings made Zayas look better than he really is, and he still didn’t look good. No strength, hesitant and timid. He is the opposite of Miguel Cotto.

Vergil Jr’s options

– Bakhram Murtazaliev
– Israel Madrimov
– Serhii Bohachuk: the rematch
– Terence Crawford
– Errol Spence
– Charles Conwell
– Erickson Lubin

Either of these talents would be infinitely more preferable than Zayas for Vergil Jr’s opponent for February 22nd. Spence is shot to pieces, but the haunted car crash version of him is a much better option for Vergil.

They gave me an hour to say yes. I said yes in one minute. @VergilOrtiz @trboks @Turki_alalshikh @GoldenBoyBoxing https://t.co/cAoVZDSdLG

—Xander Zayas (@XanderZayas) 30 November 2024