Xander Zayas is out with an injury and will not fight on April 1
Xander Zayas’ 2023 has not started on a good note, as a press release was sent out earlier today stating that the 20-year-old junior middleweight contender was forced to withdraw from his April 1 fight against Ronald Cruz due to an “undisclosed injury.” I’m sure this isn’t how the young Puerto Rican fighter wanted to start his year, but the days of him fighting more than three times a year are probably long gone, and it may just be two fights for him in 2023. If I were to guess, him not fighting in April means that he will likely fight in June during the Puerto Rican Day parade weekend in NYC.
Since Zayas is out, the new co-feature on April 1 will be Joet Gonzalez vs. Jose Enrique Vivas. This is still a very good fight and one that should provide some good action. Top Rank also included the following as they continue to promote their ESPN+ card.
Ramirez-Dogboe and Gonzalez-Vivas headline a stacked card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Gonzalez (25-3, 15 KOs) debuted in the pro ranks in 2012 and was 23-0 before facing Shakur Stevenson for the vacant WBO featherweight title in 2019. He dominated veteran Miguel Marriaga before losing his second attempt at the WBO strap in a 2021 Fight of the Year contender against Emanuel Navarrete. Gonzalez stopped Joe Santisima via ninth-round TKO last March before dropping a split decision to Dogboe in July. Vivas (22-2, 11 KOs) is coming off last May’s split decision victory over Edy Valencia.
Stay tuned to Big Fight Weekend as we continue to monitor this story. Xander Zayas is one of the young, bright stars in boxing and Top Rank is going to ensure he has a shot at becoming the next great champion from Puerto Rico.
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