On the final evening of ESPN's boxing program (for now, at least), Top Rank's two young stars earned victories that landed one a world title and the other a lesser title that could eventually become another.
In the main event, Xander Zayas outboxed Jorge Garcia to win the WBO junior middleweight title that Sebastian Fundora vacated earlier this year.
Zayas was too slick for Garcia, and although Garcia, who earned the title chance with a still-surprising upset of Charles Conwell, never stopped his aggression, Zayas's skills never allowed Garcia to impose his will on the fight.
Zayas won by scores of 119-109, 118-110, and 116-112, with my score coming in at 117-111.
Zayas appears to be below the standard of WBC champion Sebastian Fundora and IBF king Bakhram Murtazaliev for now (Terence Crawford holds the WBA belt but will vacate before his September match with Canelo Alvarez) mainly because I will need to see more power from him to believe he could hold off either of those champions but at twenty-two I wouldn't rule Zayas out for improvement.
Bruce Carrington won a minor title at featherweight with a unanimous decision over Mateus Heita.
Carrington dominated but never hurt Heita, and despite his obvious skills, might lack the pop to hold off power-hitting WBO champion Rafael Espinoza or the relentless aggression of WBA boss Nick Ball.
Carrington wins by scores of 120-108 times two (and my score) and 119-109.
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