Junior middleweight contender Xander Zayas entered the ring to the adoring screams of the Puerto Rican devoted. And the most recent phenomenon from the island nation stepped up in his major occasion debut.
Zayas dominated former world champion Patrick Teixeira (34-5, 25 KOs) through a 10-round unanimous resolution Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. The scores — 100-90 2x and 99-91 — have been consultant of the one-way site visitors.
Teixeira, who final held the WBO junior middleweight crown in 2021, entered the struggle having gained three straight. His championship expertise, nevertheless, was no match for the 21-year-old San Juan native.
Zayas stated, “Thanks to all my individuals in Puerto Rico. Since I used to be 5 years previous, I dreamed about this. It’s occurring, due to you guys, and I wish to thanks for the whole lot you do for me.
“He was robust. He knew easy methods to survive in there. It was typically tough to search out the physique, however with the expertise, he hid it. I attempted to land the hook, and he was ducking beneath. I really feel prefer it was a tricky take a look at, however I handed it with flying colours.”
Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) saved his foot on the pedal from the opening bell and saved hammering away on the head and physique. By the eighth spherical, Teixeira was on the again foot, staring on the clock and doing no matter he may to decelerate the Zayas onslaught. Zayas clipped Teixeira with a proper hand within the ninth spherical, which opened up a lower. Within the tenth, he went all out for the knockout, however the dramatic end didn’t come. He gained and can now transfer on to extra important alternatives. Nineteen years in the past, Miguel Cotto headlined Madison Sq. Backyard’s first Puerto Rican Day Parade Eve card. Zayas is the following in line.
Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, the Brownsville-born featherweight contender, made it “Shu York Metropolis” once more. Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) battered after which stopped Panamanian energy puncher Brayan De Gracia (29-4-1, 25 KOs) within the eighth spherical.
De Gracia bought the task on lower than per week’s discover however had been in coaching camp for greater than six weeks. He proved to be a tricky riddle within the early rounds, however Carrington slowly however absolutely discovered his groove. Within the fifth, a cuffing proper hand to the ear dropped De Gracia, and it was solely a matter of time. A proper despatched De Gracia down and practically by means of the ropes within the seventh. With De Gracia in full retreat mode within the eighth, Carrington poured on the punishment till Eric Dali waved it off.
“There are some issues I may’ve executed extra. There are some issues I may’ve executed higher on the defensive finish. He’s a tricky opponent, and I’m tremendous glad that Brayan got here in and took the struggle on last-minute discover,” Carrington stated. “He got here to struggle. He’s actually sturdy. His knockout ratio reveals the ability is there, however you recognize me, I’ve plenty of expertise and know easy methods to get round that, break my opponent down, and do what I do. And that’s how we bought the victory.”
Junior Welterweight: U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (13-0, 6 KOs), the most recent hopeful from Cleveland, Ohio, rolled to an eight-round unanimous resolution over the cagey Tarik Zaina (13-2-1, 8 KOs). Johnson outlanded Zaina, 143-68, and prevailed by margins of 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75.
Flyweight: Rising prospect Andy Dominguez (11-1, 6 KOs) bought again within the win column with an eight-round majority resolution over Cristopher Rios (10-2, 7 KOs), rebounding from a February defeat. Scores: 76-76, 77-75 and 78-74.
Middleweight: Lengthy Island native Jahi Tucker (11-1-1, 5 KOs) did the whole lot however rating the knockout, grinding down battle-tested veteran Quincy LaVallais (17-5-1, 12 KOs) over eight rounds in his middleweight debut. Scores: 80-72 3x.
Heavyweight: Ali Feliz (2-0, 2 KOs), a 2022 U.S. Nationwide Newbie champion, shined in skilled struggle quantity two, blasting out Lemir Isom-Riley (4-3, 2 KOs) at 1:25 of the opening spherical. Feliz knocked down Isom-Riley with a straight proper and completed issues with a rapid-fire mixture that compelled referee Eddie Claudio to step in.
Junior Light-weight: Ofacio Falcon (12-0, 6 KOs) UD 6 Antonio Dunton El Jr. (5-3-2, 2 KOs), Rating: 60-53 2x and 59-54.
Tremendous Middleweight: Nisa Rodriguez (2-0) UD 4 Jordanne Garcia (4-4-3), Scores: 40-36 3x.
