Xander Zayas Wins a Lopsided Decision over Patrick Teixeira

Xander Zayas nearly shut out Brazil’s Patrick Teixeira to win by unanimous decision in a match to measure his talent on Saturday.

He was dominant.

Zayas (19-0, 12 KOs) showed a large crowd on Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend that Teixeira (34-5, 25 KOs), a dangerous former champion, was not a serious problem at Madison Square Garden Theater.

Following in the footsteps of Puerto Rican greats is not an easy road. Zayas showed solid technique against the long-armed southpaw Teixeira but will he be able to follow the steps of Felix Trinidad who won a world title at 20?

That test has already passed. Zayas is 21 but still has time to grab a title.

Against the Brazilian fighter, Zayas displayed precision punching, especially when he attacked the body. Though he was unable to score a knockdown, he won nearly every round in winning by decision 100-90 twice and 99-91.

In a featherweight clash, Brooklyn’s Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (12-0, 8 KOs) used a persistent attack to outslug Panama’s Brayan De Gracia (29-4-1, 25 KOs) and win by technical knockout at 2:56 of the eighth round. He floored De Gracia twice before it was stopped.

Carrington was inspired by the appearance of Japan’s Naoya Inoue who was in the audience after being named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). There has been talk of Carrington facing the Japanese great.

“He definitely came to watch me,” said Carrington of the multi-division champion Inoue.

Other winners were Delante Johnson (UD 8 Tarik Zaina), Jahi Tucker (UD 8 Quincy LaVallais), Andy Dominguez (MD 8 Cristopher Rios), Ofacio Falcon (UD 6 Antonio Dunston El), Ali Felix (KO 1 Lemir Isom Riley), and Nisa Rodriguez (UD 4 Jordanne Garcia).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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