Zayas defeats Perez, becomes youngest active world champion

Xander Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) has become youngest active world champion. 22-year-old defeated on Saturday night in New York, Jorge Garcia Perez (33-5, 26 KOs) in the fight for vacant WBO World super-welterweight title.

All three judges saw Zayas as clear winner (116:112, 118:110 and 119:109).

WBO title became vacant after Sebastian Fundora refused to face mandatory challenger Zayas, instead opting to fight Tim Tszyu in rematch. Fundora won also the rematch.

“That’s what it’s all about: growth,” an elated Zayas said afterward. “You guys have seen me since I was 16 years old. You’ve seen the elevation in my game. Today wasn’t the exception. He came to fight. We knew he was coming to fight. We needed to keep him at distance and that’s what we did. We frustrated him.”

In co-main event Bruce Carrington (16-0) defeated Mateus Heita (14-1) in the fight for WBC Interim World featherweight title. Carrington won via unanimous decision (119:109, 119:109 and 120:108).