Ringside Rumbles: Your Essential Guide to This Weekend's Premier Boxing Action!
Zayas vs. Perez: The Junior Middleweight Championship Battle
The spotlight shines brightly on Saturday, July 26, as Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez vie for the vacant WBO junior middleweight world title. This pivotal main event, emanating live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, is set to kick off its primary broadcast at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Early preliminary matches will commence at 5:10 p.m. ET. Viewers can catch the main card on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+, with the undercard exclusively available on ESPN+.
Xander Zayas: A Rising Star's Ascent to the World Stage
Xander Zayas, an undefeated 22-year-old from Puerto Rico with a professional record of 21-0 (13 KOs), has been a prominent fixture on Top Rank’s broadcasts since his professional debut in 2019. Despite some observers still viewing him as a prospect, Zayas has accumulated impressive wins against formidable opponents like Patrick Teixeira and Damian Sosa, and secured a notable technical knockout over Slawa Spomer. His consistent high rankings by sanctioning bodies have now earned him this coveted world title opportunity. A victory against Perez would undoubtedly elevate his standing, potentially paving the way for future matchups against the division’s second-tier elite, including fighters such as Josh Kelly and Erickson Lubin.
Jorge Garcia Perez: A Veteran's Resurgence and Title Shot
Jorge Garcia Perez, a 28-year-old Mexican contender with a record of 33-4 (26 KOs), earned his shot at the title through a career-defining split decision victory over the previously unbeaten Charles Conwell in April. Having turned professional at the young age of 16, Perez has steadily honed his skills, overcoming early career setbacks to embark on an impressive eight-fight winning streak. His journey reflects a seasoned fighter’s evolution, arriving at this championship bout with 12 years of professional experience and newfound confidence, posing a significant challenge to the younger Zayas.
Supporting Cast: Featherweight, Junior Welterweight and Other Notable Bouts
The main card also features an intriguing co-feature bout between Bruce Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) and Mateus Heita (14-0, 9 KOs) for the interim WBC featherweight belt. Additionally, Emiliano Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs), one of Fernando Vargas's boxing sons, will face Alexander Espinoza (20-3-1, 9 KOs) in a junior welterweight contest. The extensive preliminary undercard on ESPN+ highlights several promising prospects, including welterweight Rohan Polanco, heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov, and junior bantamweight Steven Navarro, among others.
Beyond Saturday: Mid-Week Boxing Highlights
Boxing action kicks off early in the week with two significant cards on DAZN. On Thursday, July 24, junior featherweight prospects Manuel Flores (20-1, 16 KOs) and Jorge Chavez (14-0, 8 KOs) will headline a card at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, starting at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Flores, fighting near his hometown, looks to continue his winning streak, while Chavez aims to maintain his undefeated record. The co-feature will see middleweight Jordan Panthen face Farid Ngoga. On Friday, July 25, Andy Dominguez (12-1, 6 KOs) takes on former strawweight champion Byron Rojas (29-4-3, 12 KOs) at the Tropicana Atlantic City at 8 p.m. ET, with other prospects such as Dominique Crowder and Bruce Seldon Jnr also featured.
Further Friday Fights: Pierce vs. Dasmarinas and Mosley Sr.'s Return
Another Friday night offering on DAZN features Elijah Pierce (20-2, 16 KOs) against Michael Dasmarinas (36-4-2, 25 KOs) at featherweight, broadcast live from The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia, starting at 8 p.m. ET. Pierce looks to continue his strong run, while Dasmarinas aims to bounce back from recent losses. The undercard includes Olympic bronze medalist Oshae Jones defending her junior middleweight title. Meanwhile, boxing legend Shane Mosley Sr., a Hall of Famer, makes a return to the ring against Matt Floyd (15-2, 10 KOs) on TrillerTV.com, with the broadcast commencing at 1 p.m. ET. This event, taking place at London’s Indigo at the O2, also features Victor Ortiz.
Shields vs. Daniels: The GWOAT Returns to Action
Undisputed champion Claressa Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) steps into the ring on Saturday, July 26, to face Lani Daniels (11-2-2, 1 KO) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m. ET on DAZN. Shields, who dubs herself the "GWOAT" (Greatest Woman of All Time), boasts an unparalleled resume, including two Olympic gold medals and undisputed titles across multiple weight classes. Daniels, a New Zealand native, has overcome personal adversity and an extensive professional journey to earn this shot, securing world titles in two weight classes despite a less conventional path to the top. This matchup highlights Shields' continued dominance in women's boxing, as she faces a resilient contender.
Rounding Out the Weekend: Garner vs. Bellotti in the UK
Also on Saturday, July 26, Ryan Garner (17-0, 8 KOs) and Reese Bellotti (20-5, 15 KOs) will battle it out in a junior lightweight bout from the UK, broadcast on DAZN starting at 2 p.m. ET. Garner, a highly-ranked prospect from Southampton, England, looks to extend his undefeated record against the experienced Bellotti, who has rebounded impressively from a challenging period in his career. The undercard promises further action with cruiserweight and junior middleweight matchups featuring Aloys Youmbi, Ellis Zorro, Carl Fail, and Amir Abubaker.