Xander Zayas Bout Re-Scheduled For June
One of the top prospects in the Top Rank Boxing stable of fighters will be returning from injury in June. This, as the promotion announced mid-day Wednesday that unbeaten Xander Zayas will be the co-feature fight for their WBO 140 lb. world title main event June 10th between Scotland’s Josh Taylor and New York’s Teofimo Lopez at the Hulu Theater next to Madison Square Garden.
THE RETURN 🎇@XanderZayas is set to shine on the eve of Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC.
On sale now | https://t.co/iDlVAf7Rtf pic.twitter.com/wB0wIsWvFn
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 12, 2023
Zayas will take on Ronald Cruz in a bout that had been slated originally for last weekend, but was postponed for what was described at the time as an “undisclosed injury.” Our insider Dan Rafael reported in early March that Zayas injured his hand in training for the Cruz bout.
“I cannot wait to fight at Madison Square Garden in front of my people on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. This is a dream come true,” Zayas said. “Ronald Cruz is a tough, durable fighter, and I expect the best version of him on June 10,” Zayas said in the release.
The fast rising Zayas, 15-0, 10 KOs, is coming off an impressive 2022 that included an eight-round decision win over Quincy LaVallais and then, in December against Alexis Salazar. He also scored a fifth-round TKO against Elias Espadas last August. Zayas will be part of the Top Rank/ESPN show that’s on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York.
As for Cruz , 18-2-1, 12, KOs, he’s a Los Angeles native who has never been stopped as a pro. After suffering his first loss in 2015, he went 16-0 before battling Kevin Ottley to a draw in 2021. In his last fight, Cruz lost a 10 round unanimous decision to Damian Sosa in August of last year.
“I’m beyond excited to be fighting Xander Zayas,” Cruz said in the release. “My whole life I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to test myself against top opposition on the biggest of stages. I look forward to starting a new rivalry, El Salvador against Puerto Rico. June 10, you will have two hungry lions battling it out. I can’t wait.”
Taylor-Lopez and Zayas-Cruz will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Saturday night June 10th.
A veteran broadcaster of over 25 years, T.J. has been a fight fan longer than that! He’s the host of the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast and will go “toe to toe” with anyone who thinks that Marvin Hagler beat Sugar Ray Leonard or that Tyson, Lennox Lewis or Deontay Wilder could have beaten Ali!
