Xander Zayas’ homecoming headliner will move forward without the show’s intended co-feature.
BoxingScene has confirmed that welterweight contender Rohan Polanco, 17-0 (10 KOs), has fallen ill and was forced out of his scheduled clash with Christian Gomez, 23-6-1 (21 KOs).
As a result, their planned 10-round bout was canceled outright and Gomez is now left without an opponent for Saturday’s show from Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan.
Boxing podcaster Broadway Joel—best known as The Voice of Dominican Boxing—was the first to report the development.
Full details were not made available as this goes to publication. However, BoxingScene has learned that Polanco felt sick Thursday evening but hoped to push through in time to at least make it to Friday’s weigh-in. As his health did not improve in time, event officials were informed to remove the fight from the lineup.
The event would have marked the fourth time in just over 19 months that Zayas and Polanco were to appear on the same show. Zayas, 22-0 (13 KOs), remains atop the bill as he risks his WBO 154lbs title versus WBA beltholder Abass Baraou, 17-1 (9 KOs), in their scheduled 12-round unification clash.
Both boxers appeared on the final Top Rank on ESPN card last July 26 at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. Zayas won the vacant WBO 154lbs title in a 12-round, unanimous decision over Jorge Garcia in the main event. Polanco was equally dominant in a 10-round, unanimous decision victory over Quinton Randall in a supporting bout.
A win on Saturday would have put Polanco closer to his first major title fight. The unbeaten Dominican is ranked No. 6 by the WBO at welterweight and was bullish on advancing to that stage in the coming year.
Friday’s development is a step back, as he will have to scramble to find a new date.
Saturday’s card is just the second to prominently feature Top Rank’s roster since the end of its eight-year network deal with ESPN. The Las Vegas-headquartered company remains on the hunt for a partnership with a new platform; this card will air on Top Rank Classics FAST channel.
