Xander Zayas unveiled his three-fighter hit list of who he wants to fight the most at 154. This is the three on Zayas’ list from top to bottom:
- Vergil Ortiz jr.
- Sebastian fundora
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
Zayas (22-0, 13 CO’s) won the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight title last month and beat Jorge Garcia on July 26. Despite Garcia looking slow and horrible, Zayas had many trouble beating him.
Top Rank’s Zayas strategy
You can see that you are looking at the fight that it is the best that Xander can do. He can’t beat fighters better than the level of Jorge Garcia. He does not have the power, and he shows a reluctance to get involved. The amount Zayas did against Garcia was the most I have ever seen of a fighter without being penalized or disqualified. It was extreme.
The Zayas promoters on the top rank did not expect to fight one of the three from his list against him. Instead, he rumored to defend against the Fringe Welterweight contender Giovani Santillan in December in a homecoming to Puerto Rico.
“Vergil Ortiz #1, Sebastian Fundora and Boots Ennis,” Xander Zayas said Dazn boxrating against whom he prefers to fight next. ‘Vergil Ortiz, I feel a big fight here on the east coast for Puerto Rico and Mexico. He is from Mexico, I am from Puerto Rico and fight a lot in New York. I feel that being on the east coast would be a crazy battle. “
“The same thing with boots on the east coast. He is a former world champion and moves in weight class. I first had to see him at 154. 147 is a very different story. That’s why I chose him on this,” Zayas said.
The weak link at 154
It would be difficult for Ennis if he immediately fought one of the quality junior middle weights in his first fight in the new weight class. But it wouldn’t be a problem at all if boots fought against Xander Zayas in his first fight, because he’s not one of the talented fighters. He is more a paper champion -type fighter. He is like the Mario Barios of the 154 pound section. In other words, Zayas is the weakest link.
Ennis would easily beat Xander if he got the chance, which he would not do. Top rank will not allow it and will probably never do. It doesn’t matter how long boots fight in 154. He will not have the chance to fight against Zayas unless someone like Turki Alalshikh gets involved and offers Xander Crazy Money.
“The second one, Sebastian Fundora, I chose him because I was compulsory, and I felt the fight was going to happen. So, I still want to show that I can hit him,” Xander said.
It is doubtful that the Top Rang Xander will rise against Fundora, as the rash would certainly be bad for their fighter. They try to make Zayas in a star in New York by selectively fiting him in the same way they did Edgar Berlanga. If they were fighting Zayas Fundora, he would permanently destroy it, just like Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Last updated on 08/05/2025
