Fight Recap: Xander Zayas Wins Puerto Rican Day Fight

Xander Zayas of San Juan, Puerto Rico scored a decision win in Top Rank Boxing’s traditional Puerto Rican Day main event Saturday in New York. Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) handled veteran Patrick Teixeira of Sombrio, Brazil (34-5, 25 KOs) with a patient approach under the watchful eye of trainer Javiel Centeno. Scores from the judges were 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91.

Xander Zayas is eager to rise through the ranks in the super welterweight division. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

The junior middleweight passed the test from Teixeira in his first ten-round fight, easily out landing the southpaw in every round.

“Since I’ve been five years old I’ve been dreaming about this, said the 21-year-old prospect. “It’s happening thanks to you guys.”

Teixeira has been fighting at a higher weight, and the veteran is past his best. He remains crafty and did what was necessary to avoid serious punishment, staying mobile in the ring and able to take advantage of any mistakes by Zayas. Teixeira's left hook is still dangerous, and Zayas showed solid defensive skills, avoiding it for the most part, other than a good sixth round for Teixeira.

The younger, fresher man easily outworked Teixeira, and in the eighth round with Teixeira visibly slowing down, Zayas tried to find his way to a stoppage. But he could not convert and cruised to the decision.

“Man, he was tough. He’s a veteran. He knew how to survive in there,” said Zayas. “It was sometimes difficult to find the body. We knew the body was soft. With his experience, he was hiding so much. I was trying to land the hook and he was ducking underneath. So I feel like it was a tough test, but I passed with flying colors.”

Xander Zayas Wins, Needs To Keep Working

Xander Zayas found himself working hard to find the real estate to land his body punches. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

It’s easy to feel disappointed at the lack of fireworks from Zayas. But he is still just 21, and he has plenty of time to build his skillset before facing top names in the super welterweight division, or beyond should he move up in weight.

“Practice makes perfection,” said Zayas, saying he would work on finding angles against southpaw opponents and going to the body.

“It’s like everyone at Top Rank tells me. Before you go 12, you gotta go 10. I did it today. I graduated today against a former world champion. Those were the rounds I needed, and I’m ready for whatever names they throw at me now,” said Zayas. Pump the brakes, kid.

Carrington Delivers With TKO8 Win

Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington is the latest boxing talent out of the Brownsville section of Brooklyn – as was Mike Tyson. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

As he often does, Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington of Brooklyn stole the show on this card. Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) faced a last-minute change of opponent in Brayan DeGracia of Bella Vista, Panama (29-4-1, 25 KOs). It made no difference as Carrington disarmed and dismantled DeGracia with ease, getting another stoppage win in eight rounds.

DeGracia was in the gym, but the late call-up began to show in the middle rounds as Carrington’s offense visibly wore DeGracia down. Carrington scored a knockdown in the fifth round when DeGracia dropped his hands and dipped his head, landing a hard right hand.

In the seventh round, Carrington went to the body to set up his finale. He nearly sent DeGracia through the ropes, closing the round with another knockdown from a five-punch combination ending with another right to the head.

Bruce Carrington sent Brayan DeGracia to the canvas in the sixth round and stopped him in eight. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

With DeGracia on a short leash, Carrington started round eight wobbling DeGracia with a hard left. Referee Eric Dali stayed close. When Carrington landed a left hook followed by three uppercuts, Dali pulled DeGracia out for the TKO victory at 2:56 of the round.

“There are some things I could have done more, some things I could have done better,” said Carrington, who thanked DeGracia for taking the fight on short notice. “I know how to break an opponent down and get the victory.

“(DeGracia) had a lot of will, there were certain times when I would catch him with some shots. It’s like ‘woo, let’s go Shu Shu!’ That gave me even more of a reason to break him down and get him outta there.”

Bruce Carrington wants an opportunity to take on Naoya Inoue when the multi-division champion moves up to the featherweight division. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

The presence of the Boxing Writers Association of America 2023 Fighter of the Year no doubt motivated Carrington as well. At the conclusion of his fight, Carrington walked to the side of the ring, where undisputed world super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan sat watching his fight and took a bow. Carrington has made no secret of wanting to face Inoue when he decided to move up to the featherweight division.

“It’s interesting that he came here to watch,” said Carrington, noting Inoue leaving after his fight. “I’m ringing bells and making noise. I definitely want to make that fight happen soon.”

In an interview before Carrington’s fight with ESPN’s Mark Kriegel, Inoue said he would consider moving up when he felt his body was ready to move up. He previously showed he’s in no hurry to move up from 122 pounds, content to defend his undisputed status for now.

Undercard Wins: Johnson, Dominguez, Tucker, Falcon, Feliz, Rodriguez

Tiger Johnson Needs to Sharpen His Teeth

Delante “Tiger” Johnson did what was necessary to get the victory, but he needs to advance to the next level. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Junior welterweight Delante “Tiger” Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio (13-0, 6 KOs) won a comfortable decision against Tarik Zaina of Tangier, Morrocco (13-2-1, 8 KOs) in eight rounds. Scores were 79-73, 78-74, and 77-75. All good, right?

While Johnson got the victory, he didn’t do a lot to impress or thrill anyone. He stepped on the gas just once at the very end of the sixth round. The former U.S. Olympian needs to find his secret sauce to advance his skills beyond competency in his upcoming fights.

Flyweight Flurries: Dominguez Defeats Rios

Flyweight Andy Dominguez did just enough to get a majority decision over Cristopher Rios. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

In a battle of flyweights both coming off losses, it was Andy Dominguez of New York City (11-1, 6 KOs) who prevailed by majority decision in a close contest over Cristopher Rios of Compton, California (10-3, 7 KOs). Scores were 78-74 and 77-75 for Dominguez, and a draw on the third card, 76-76.

Tucker Outpoints LaVallais

Jahi Tucker put on a solid performance, going the distance against Quincy LaVallais. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Middleweight Jahi Tucker of Long Island, NY (11-1-1, 5 KOs) bounced back from his first loss with a decision win against Quincy LaVallais of Panama City, Florida (17-5-1, 12 KOs). All three scorecards were 80-72 shutouts.

LaVallais is a reliably durable opponent who offers plenty of rounds of work, also taking Tucker’s Top Rank stablemates Xander Zayas and Troy Isley. But LaVallais doesn’t offer any true offensive threat. Tucker came closest to an early end in the sixth round with a series of impressive uppercuts and body shots but had to be content with the decisive scorecards.

Falcon Pleases Hometown Fans With Decision

Ofacio Falcon drills Antonio Dunton El, Jr. during their bout Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Ofacio “Sniper” Falcon of Bronx, NY (12-0, 6 KOs) pleased the hometown fans with a decisive decision victory over Antonio Dunton El, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland (5-3-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round junior lightweight bout. Scores were 60-53 twice and 59-54. It was Falcon’s first fight working with new trainer Kay Koroma after moving on from training with his father.

Heavy Hitter Ali Feliz Stays Perfect

Heavyweight Ali Feliz took care of his business in just one round. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz of Danbury, Connecticut (2-0, 2 KOs) wasted no time taking out Lemir Isom-Riley of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (4-3, 2 KOs) with hard right-hand flurries at 1:25 of the first round.

Feliz is a Dominican-American with plenty of power, but he is on the smaller side for a heavyweight in the modern era at 6-2, 220 pounds, similar to his stablemate Richard Torrez Jr.

Nisa Rodriguez Lays Down The Law

Nisa Rodriguez hopes to rise quickly in the women's super middleweight division. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank

Super middleweight Nisa Rodriguez of Manhattan, New York (2-0) had her fellow NYPD officers in The Theater at MSG cheering her on in her bout against Jordanne Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico (4-4-3). Rodriguez won a shutout decision with three scores of 40-36 in four rounds.

After an accomplished amateur career, the 32-year-old Rodriguez was encouraged to pursue a professional career by her son, Emerson, age 15. Rodriguez is adjusting to the pro style and learning to sit down on her punches. Once she does, the 5-foot-11 Rodriguez will make an intriguing challenger in the women’s higher weight divisions.