Rising junior middleweight star Xander Zayas continues to march towards title contention, and next on his list is a rapidly improving Jorge Garcia Perez, who hopes to derail the momentum of the highly touted prospect.
Zayas is the -500 favorite over the +350 underdog Garcia. Here are my free Zayas vs. Garcia predictions and betting picks for June 26.
Zayas vs Garcia prediction and pick
- My fight prediction: Zayas ML (-500 at DraftKings)
- My best bet: Zayas by decision (-155 at DraftKings)
Fight analysis
There is a lot to like about Zayas, who is showing flashes of brilliance at just 22 years old.
He’s showing the kind of poise and confidence in the ring exhibited by more mature fighters, and even though he’s facing the level of opposition appropriate for his level, there won’t be much time until he manages to start making noise in the traditionally deep junior middleweight division.
Garcia might not have the flashiest record at 33-4, but he has a great chin and seems to be hitting his stride at only 28 years old.
Zayas is coming off a ninth-round TKO win over Slava Spomer last February, where he carved Spomer up with his hand speed and worked him over ahead of the stoppage.
He’s had extensive amateur experience and has transitioned well into the pro ranks — showing excellent conditioning and fast hands — but can sit on his shots and break his opponent’s guard to land his best punches. A textbook fighter with strong fundamentals and good power on the outside, he’s developing into a solid professional.
Garcia is accustomed to playing spoiler, as he just upset previously undefeated Charles Conwell, doing so by being gritty and aggressive.
He’ll be the taller fighter in the ring and will look to keep the fight close, where he can use his heavy body shots to hopefully zap Zayas’ energy and rough him up.
One thing about Garcia is he tends to get lost in his aggression and isn’t beyond fighting dirty if he can get away with it or if he feels it’ll play to his advantage.
This shouldn’t be too tough an assignment for Zayas, who will have Garcia right in front of him in pursuit all night. The hand speed and accurate punching will be on full display as Zayas counters and pivots to make Garcia pay for charging in.
Still, the early rounds represent Garcia’s best chance to try and tie Zayas up to target his body and set the groundwork for a late-fight charge.
Eventually, Zayas will let his hands go as Garcia keeps running into his shots, and barring any dramatic exchanges, he’ll use his footwork and upper body movement to stay out of trouble.
There’s too much skill and finesse in Zayas’ game to lose to a tough, but limited journeyman in Garcia
Best best analysis
Zayas has more tools and a better skill set than crude bruiser Garcia. While Garcia would win in a situation where this would devolve into a brawl, he hasn’t shown the ability to cut off the ring and crowd opponents of Zayas’ level.
Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia odds
| Method of victory | Xander Zayas | Jorge Garcia |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -500 | +350 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +280 | +900 |
| Win by points or decision | -155 | +650 |
| Draw | +1600 | +1600 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 7-26.
Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia tale of the tape
| Zayas | Garcia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Age | 28 |
| 5-foot-10 | Height | 6-foot |
| Junior Middleweight | Weight Class | Junior Middleweight |
| 74 inches | Reach | Unknown |
| 21-0 | Record | 33-4 |
| 13 | Wins by KO | 26 |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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