Resorts World, Las Vegas, USA. On the undercard, Puerto Rican junior middleweight prospect (up to 69.9 kg) Xander Zayas (14-0, 10 KOs) beat Mexico’s Elias Espadas (22-5, 15 KOs).
The battle began at top speed. In the first minute of the fight, the prospect made a sharp knockdown – he dropped his opponent with a left counter hook to the jaw. Couldn’t delay the Espadas before the gong. Zayas also hit slightly short of goal several times, for which he was booked by the referee.
FLUSH.
Go ringside on @XanderZayas‘ knock down. #LopezCampa pic.twitter.com/VfjnavT7AI
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 14, 2022
In the second round, Zayas continued his pursuit of Espada’s corps. He responded with punch for punch, and in the final seconds of the three-minute period, the fighters staged a wild exchange. In the 3rd round, the underdog became completely uncomfortable: he could no longer keep the pace of the fight, he had to defend himself more and more often, sometimes clinch. Was shocked by a left hook, but stayed on his feet.
LEFT HOOK.
RIGHT HAND. pic.twitter.com/2X5LHFF8ur
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 14, 2022
The Espadas were lucky, because in the 4th three-minute period, Zayas could no longer continue to bombard the opponent’s hull – he received the final warning from the third in the ring, as several punches again fell below the waterline.
The fight ended at the 30th second of the 5th round. It was a beautiful combination: jab, left hook and right hook. The final blow landed squarely on the Espada’s jaw. He fell and the referee decided to stop the fight.
“THE BEST VIEW IN ****ING BOXING!”
@XanderZayas x #LopezCampa pic.twitter.com/KPQtb9gQsA
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 14, 2022
Zaya’s TKO 5. Very good!
As part of the show in the second featherweight limit (up to 59 kg), the local prospect Andres Cortes (18-0, 10 KOs) beat the tenacious Mexican Abraham Montoya (20-4-1, 14 KOs).
The fight went all the way. The judges gave the fight to the favorite with a unanimous score of 79-73.
Cortes UD 8.
