Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez square off on Saturday, July 26, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. The two fighters battle it out for the vacant WBO title at super welterweight.
Unbeaten 22-year-old Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) of Puerto Rico makes his first attempt to become champion. Mexico’s 28-year-old Garcia (33-4, 26 KOs) looks to claim one of four major belts, previously earning the IBO strap. The WBO 154-pound title became vacant after Sebastian Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) relinquished the belt ahead of his rematch with Tim Tszyu.
In the 12-round co-feature, Bruce Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY faces Mateus Heita (14-0, 9 KOs) of Namibia for the interim WBC featherweight title. In the eight-round main card opener, Emiliano Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs) of Oxnard, CA meets Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza (20-3-1, 9 KOs) at super lightweight.
Among the Zayas vs Garcia undercard bouts, Rohan Polanco (16-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic and Quinton Randall (15-2-1, 3 KOs) of Houston, TX go head-to-head in a 10-rounder at welterweight. Polanco puts his WBO Intercontinental title on the line.
Zayas vs Garcia results
Get Zayas vs Garcia full fight card results below.
Main card
- Xander Zayas def. Jorge Garcia Perez by unanimous decision (116-112, 118-110, 119-109) | Watch video
- Bruce Carrington def. Mateus Heita by unanimous decision (119-109, 119-109, 120-109) | Watch video
- Emiliano Vargas def. Alexander Espinoza by TKO (R1, 0:42) | Watch video
Prelims
- Rohan Polanco def. Quinton Randall by unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 97-93) | Watch video
- Juanmita Lopez De Jesus def. Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez by TKO (R2, 1:14) | Watch video
- Yan Santana def. Aaron Alameda by unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90)
- Steven Navarro def. Cristopher Rios by unanimous decision (77-75, 77-75, 77-75)
- Julius Ballo def. Brandan Ayala by unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Zayas vs Garcia live blog
Zayas vs Garcia fight photos now live
The photos from the event – including Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia Perez, as well as the undercard action – have been published. See the photos.
Video: Xander Zayas calls out Sebastian Fundora
After his victory over Jorge Garcia to claim the vacant WBO super welterweight title, Xander Zayas called out reigning WBC 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora. Fundora had vacated the WBO title prior to his rematch with Tim Tszyu.
Highlights: Zayas bests Garcia to claim title
The fight highlight featuring Xander Zayas as he faces Jorge Garcia Perez is now streaming. Zayas defeats Garcia by decision to become the new WBO super welterweight champion. Watch the video.
Video: Bruce Carrington calls out Rafael Espinoza
After his victory over Mateus Heita, Bruce Carrington called out reigning WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza.
Xander Zayas defeats Jorge Garcia by decision to become champion
Xander Zayas defeats Jorge Garcia Perez by unanimous decision to become the new WBO super welterweight champion. After 12 rounds, the judges scored it 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109.
Zayas vs Garcia underway
The main event is underway, as Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez battle it out for the vacant WBO 154-pound title.
Highlights: Carrington defeats Heita to win interim title
The highlight featuring Bruce Carrington as he bests Mateus Heita to win the interim WBC featherweight title is now streaming. Watch the video.
Main event time: Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia Perez
It’s time for the final boxing main event on ESPN. The contest features unbeaten 22-year-old Xander Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) of Puerto Rico against 28-year-old Jorge Garcia Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) of Mexico. The contest is set to crown the new WBO super welterweight champion.
Bruce Carrington defeats Mateus Heita by decision to win interim title
Bruce Carrington (16-0, 9 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY earns a unanimous decision over Namibia’s Mateus Heita (14-2, 9 KOs) to win the interim WBC featherweight title. After 12 rounds, the judges scored it 119-109, 119-109, and 120-109.
Highlights: Vargas KO's Espinoza with one punch
The 42-second, one-punch knockout by Emiliano Vargas in his bout against Alexander Espinoza is now streaming. Watch the video.
Co-main event: Bruce Carrington vs Mateus Heita
The co-main event features Bruce Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY up against Mateus Heita (14-0, 9 KOs) of Namibia. The pair battle it out for the interim WBC featherweight title. The contest is scheduled for 12 rounds.
Emiliano Vargas stops Alexander Espinoza in 42 seconds
Emiliano Vargas (15-0, 13 KOs) of Oxnard, CA dominates, drops, and stops Ecuador’s Alexander Espinoza (20-4-1, 9 KOs) in 42 seconds of their contest at super lightweight. With the win, Vargas retains his NABF belt.
Highlights: Rohan Polanco bests Quinton Randall
The highlight featuring Rohan Polanco up against Quinton Randall in their 10-round welterweight bout is now streaming. Watch the video.
Highlights: De Jesus bests Gonzalez-Sanchez
The highlight featuring Juanmita Lopez De Jesus in his bout against Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez is now streaming. Watch the video.
Next up: Emiliano Vargas vs Alexander Espinoza
Opening the final boxing fight card on ESPN, Emiliano Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs) of Oxnard, CA meets Alexander Espinoza (20-3-1, 9 KOs) of Ecuador. The bout is scheduled for eight rounds at super lightweight.
Rohan Polanco defeats Quinton Randall by decision
Rounding out the prelims, Rohan Polanco (17-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic defeats Quinton Randall (15-3-1, 3 KOs) of Houston, TX by unanimous decision. After 10 rounds at welterweight, the scores were 100-90, 99-91, and 97-93. Polanco retains his WBO Intercontinental title.
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus TKO's Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez in second round
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus (3-0, 2 KOs) defeats fellow Puerto Rican Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez (5-3, 4 KOs) via second-round TKO at super flyweight. The referee waved the fight off after De Jesus scored a knockdown. Gonzalez-Sanchez was not happy with the stoppage.
Yan Santana defeats Aaron Alameda by decision
Dominican Yan Santana (15-0, 12 KOs) defeats Mexico’s Aaron Alameda (30-3, 17 KOs) by unanimous decision at featherweight. All three judges scored the 10-round fight 100-90.
Steven Navarro defeats Cristopher Rios by decision
Steven Navarro (7-0, 5 KOs) of Inglewood, CA remains unbeaten, scoring a unanimous decision over Cristopher Rios (11-3, 7 KOs) of Lynwood, CA in an eight-rounder at junior bantamweight. All three judges scored the fight 77-75
Julius Ballo defeats Brandan Ayala by decision
Kicking off the action, Julius Ballo (1-0) of San Diego, California makes a successful pro boxing, defeating North Carolina’s Brandan Ayala (2-0, 1 KO) by unanimous decision in a four-rounder at featherweight. All three scores were 40-36.
Broadcast team
Top Rank shared a photo of the broadcast team for its final boxing event on ESPN platforms. The prelims start now on ESPN+.
Top Rank on ESPN
The final Top Rank boxing show on ESPN, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, starts at the top of the hour.
Video: Zayas vs Garcia press conference recap
This is what Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia had to say at the final press conference a few days before their bout.
Video: Zayas vs Garcia weigh-in recap
In case you missed it, check out the weigh-in recap featuring Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia, along with co-main event fighters Bruce Carrington and Mateus Heita ahead of their title bouts.
Zayas vs Garcia: How to watch and start time
Zayas vs Garcia airs live on ESPN+. The start time is 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT, with the prelims starting at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT.
