Upcoming Boxing Match at Madison Square Garden
This Saturday, a significant boxing match is set to take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, highlighting the talents of emerging Puerto Rican boxer Xander Zayas. In this pivotal event, Zayas, who has been dubbed one of the most promising young fighters in the sport, will face seasoned Mexican competitor Jorge Garcia. This bout is particularly noteworthy as it will determine the new WBO junior middleweight champion, marking a historic closing chapter in Top Rank Boxing’s longstanding partnership with ESPN.
Xander Zayas: A Rising Star
Xander Zayas, just 22 years old, brings a perfect professional record of 21 wins with 13 by knockout since signing with Top Rank at the tender age of 16 in 2019, making him the youngest fighter to join the esteemed promotion, which has a legacy of promoting legends such as Muhammad Ali and Manny Pacquiao. His opponent, 28-year-old Jorge Garcia, is looking to disrupt Zayas’ title hopes, entering the ring with a record of 33 wins, 4 losses, and 26 KOs under his belt.
Exciting Undercard
Adding excitement to the undercard is Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, celebrated as the 2023 Ring Magazine Prospect of the Year, who boasts an unbeaten record of 15 wins and 9 KOs. Carrington’s match against Mateus Heita will compete for the WBC interim featherweight title, further underscoring the quality of fighters featured in this event.
A Historic Moment in U.S. Sports Broadcasting
As the boxing world anticipates Saturday’s matches, it also marks a historic moment in U.S. sports broadcasting. After more than 80 years of boxing being a staple on linear television—dating back to the first televised bout in 1939, featuring Max Baer and Lou Nova—this event will be the final boxing show aired on ESPN as Top Rank’s media rights agreement nears its end. This partnership first began in 2018 and has showcased some of boxing’s most significant bouts, including the notable heavyweight title clashes between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
The Future of Boxing Broadcasting
In a shift seen across the boxing landscape, other promotions including Golden Boy, Premier Boxing Champions, and Matchroom have turned to streaming platforms such as DAZN and Amazon Prime to deliver fights, positioning Top Rank at a crossroads as they have yet to reveal plans for a new broadcasting partner following their ESPN expiration in August. The implications of this event and its historical significance are sure to resonate within the boxing community and its fans.
