Comments Thread For: Xander Zayas embraces first step to joining Puerto Rican greats he?s long idolized

[BoxingUpdates]

The clash of newly crowned titlists will headline at Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, where both met the press on Wednesday to formally announce their showdown.
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[Grandma Lover]

This bum and bumdora holding the belts hostage is annoying af

[boxingitis]

Titles don't matter. Ennis vs Ortiz is a much better and bigger fight than this UNIFICATION.

[Corelone]

THEY say Baraou has talent, so how come we never heard of him until he beat a whole 10 fight title holder. This is like a participation prize title fight. It might be good, but not all that guaranteed KO good. Zayas has some skill and the home town edge. Three points out of the gate.

[LAchargers373]

I like xayas. He’s better than people give him credit for.

[Oregonian]

This bum and bumdora holding the belts hostage is annoying af

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These are the 4 beltholders at 154 Ibs

WBO: Xander Zayas
IBF: Bakhram Murtazaliev
WBA: Abass Baraou*
WBC: Sebastian Fundora**

*Jaron Ennis is the WBA junior middleweight interim champions.

**Vergil Ortiz Jr. is the WBC junior middleweight interim champion

Fundora has ONE belt. Zayas has ONE. How exactly are they holding the belts hostage?

[JakeNDaBox]

Titles don't matter. Ennis vs Ortiz is a much better and bigger fight than this UNIFICATION.

That said, Xander-Baraou is a fight that is actually happening. Boots-Vergil not there yet and doesn't seem like it will be next or even anytime soon.

[Grandma Lover]

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These are the 4 beltholders at 154 Ibs

WBO: Xander Zayas
IBF: Bakhram Murtazaliev
WBA: Abass Baraou*
WBC: Sebastian Fundora**

*Jaron Ennis is the WBA junior middleweight interim champions.

**Vergil Ortiz Jr. is the WBC junior middleweight interim champion

Fundora has ONE belt. Zayas has ONE. How exactly are they holding the belts hostage?

2 out of 4 belts not being defended against top opposition is holding the belts hostage

[lilacp]

This is a solid fight; there is no reason to crap on Zayas for fighting Baraou, who fought a well-respected contender in Tellez. It's not like there are many other top ten contenders at 154. The only real issue is that Fundora is fighting Thurman, who should have retired already, and that none of the belt holders wants to fight poor Bakhram, too much risk for too little reward is the rule of the game now, sadly.

Don't be surprised if the Ennis ends up fighting the winner of this fight, while Ortiz ends up going against the winner of Fundora - Thurman, if Thurman doesn't injure himself again. And Bakhram will keep being avoided.

[ELPacman]

This bum and bumdora holding the belts hostage is annoying af

I don't mind Fundora. I think he's doing a lot more than Xander has and actually has gifts. Xander reminds me so much of Verdejo. Athletic but no special effects. His power is meh. Speed is meh. Defense is meh. He just goes in, faces mediocre comp and gets the W. I've yet to see him face someone with a pulse.

Fundora has earned my respect. Dude got flattened by Mendoza and came back with confidence. I honestly did not think he would beat Tszyu in the rematch, but totally impressed me. He didn't listen to the critics and sure, some of it is that Tszyu had a lot taken out of him by the other dude I can't spell, but it's not Fundora's fault there. It was still a solid win and Tszyu looked himself for the most part, though this time Fundora was giving more and Tszyu couldn't keep up.

If Xander is missing special effects, Fundora at least has height and crazy stamina. Those alone can get him by fights he might otherwise not win.