Fans predict that Xander Zayas will make his first defense of his WBC junior middleweight title against #3 Josh Kelly in December in Puerto Rico. It is a fight that fits the protective approach of top rank to Zayas’ career.
Kelly Matchup expected
Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 COs) is not a threat to beat Xander compared to the fighters he mentioned last Saturday after his victory over Jorge Garcia. British fighter Kelly has won his last seven battles against opposition at domestic level since he was knocked out by David Avanesyan in 2021. Kelly has shown that he has not improved much over the past four years when he lost to Ishmael Davis in September last year.
Zayas (22-0, 13 CO’s) expressed interest in the fight against WBC champion Sebastian Fundora, IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, and the interim WBC champion, Vergil Ortiz Jr. These are all fights that Zayas would probably lose pretty bad.
Fundora is the one that Zayas spoke to fight the most. He does not fit in the likely title-dairing plan that the top rank will have for Xander. They built him in the same way they did with Edgar Berlanga and matched him against cans. He is essentially Berlanga 2.0 With the way top rank tackles him. He is just as vulnerable as Edgar. The only difference is that Zayas is really from Puerto Rico. He does not pose.
Astronomical offer required
#4 WBO Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a fighter who fans would like to see Zayas fighting, but who has no chance to happen without his promoter, Eddie Hearn, an astronomical offer. This will have to be an unreal number, probably in the $ 10 million range, because the top ranking would not make such a fight knowing that Zayas would lose.
However, they would not reject such a crazy offer. This is money that Xander will never see in his career without keeping his WBO title for many years. This would be impossible because of its limited ability.
If Turki Alalshikh came through for Hearn, he could come up with the money to set a fight between Zayas and Ennis for one of his Riyadh season meetings. However, the top rank can drag their feet, which will keeps zayas protect to Continue building up a record against less opposition. They have so far done an excellent job with Zayas, because they led him to a world title without fighting with a solid fighters.
Last updated on 07/28/2025
