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The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Jesse Rodriguez, Teofimo Lopez: Ranking boxing's 10 youngest world champions
Xander Zayas created history on Saturday night when he beat Mexico's Jorge Garcia Perez, becoming boxing 's current youngest male world champion. The 22-year-old looks set to be Puerto Rico's next superstar after winning the WBO super-welterweight title to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Miguel Cotto and Felix Trinidad. Zayas clearly has a bright future ahead of him, but exactly how good is he? Here, we rank the 10 youngest men's world champions in boxing right now. 10. Erick Rosa Erick Rosa hails from the Dominican Republic and is yet to fight outside of his homeland as a professional. He has also only had eight bouts, which is why he is at the bottom of the list for now. It is currently unknown exactly how far he can go in the sport. But he did hold the WBA (Regular) mini-flyweight title for over two years after winning it in 2021. He then became a full world champion when he picked up the WBA light-flyweight belt by outpointing Neider Valdez Aguilar last December. Rosa is set for a major test on Wednesday when he travels to Japan to defend his title against local favourite Kyosuke Takami. 9. Anthony Olascuaga California's Anthony Olascuaga turned professional in 2020 and wasted little time in working his way into title contention. He fought Japan's pound-for-pound star Kenshiro Teraji in just his sixth fight for the WBC, WBA and The Ring light-flyweight titles but was stopped inside nine rounds. However, his impressive showing earned him another title shot just two fights later, and this time he took it with both hands. Olascuaga returned to Japan to stop Riku Kano for the vacant WBO flyweight title and has since made two successful defences of his belt. 8. Thanongsak Simsri Thanongsak Simsri has largely kept out of the limelight despite having 40 professional fights by the age of 25. His record is a remarkable one, with 34 of his 39 wins coming via knockout, while he has only lost once. There are some question marks about his level of opposition as most of his fights have been on home soil in Thailand. But having cleaned up domestically, he finally stepped up to world level last time out to edge a split decision over Christian Araneta and claim the vacant IBF light-flyweight title. Bigger challenges lie ahead, and we should soon see whether Simsri is good enough to start dominating in his division. 7. Xander Zayas Zayas certainly has the potential to climb this list very quickly, but for now he is a new champion with bigger tests to come. He holds a perfect, 22-0 (13), record and has rarely been troubled in his career to date. That was the case once again on Saturday when he outclassed Perez over 12 rounds. The light-middleweight division is an intriguing one, with Jaron Ennis announcing his intention to fight in the weight class next. Vergil Ortiz is also eyeing a title shot soon. But Vargas looks ready to be in this company, and he is only going to get better. 6. Richardson Hitchins Richardson Hitchins competed for Haiti at the 2016 Olympics when he was only 18 years old. He was earmarked early on as a special talent. After initially signing with Floyd Mayweather once he turned professional, Hitchins then switched over to Matchroom Boxing. He gradually worked his way up the rankings to get his chance at title glory when he challenged Liam Paro for his IBF light-welterweight belt in December. Hitchins' class and slick combinations earned him a points win, and he followed that up by stopping former champion George Kambosos Jr last month. His lack of power has been raised as a potential issue in the past, but finishing Kambosos Jr inside the distance was a statement of intent from Hitchins, who seems to be growing into his role as a champion at 27. 5. Sebastian Fundora Sebastian Fundora is a unique light-middleweight as he stands at almost two metres tall. Somehow he gets down to 154lbs and is a major handful for all of his opponents due to his incredible height and reach. His height may have actually counted against him when he lost his interim WBC title to Brian Mendoza in 2023. Fundora was caught standing upright as Mendoza knocked him out in brutal fashion. However, Fundora bounced back to win the WBO and WBC belts from Tim Tszyu in his next fight. He has since secured two further wins, including beating Tszyu again, this time by stoppage, earlier this month. 4. Brian Norman Jr Brian Norman Jr switched to the professional ranks when he was only 17 in 2018. He made steady progress through the rankings, but has started to make a major splash over the past 18 months. Norman was involved in a thrilling fight with Giovani Santillan which he won via 10th-round knockout last year to claim the WBO interim world title. He was subsequently upgraded to full champion and has since won his last two fights without being extended beyond the fifth round. His last victory against Jin Sasaki in June was a contender for knockout of the year, showcasing the scary power that Norman possesses. Norman is on a rapid rise and is set to defend his title against Devin Haney in a mouthwatering clash in November. 3. Teofimo Lopez Teofimo Lopez is a controversial character outside of the ring, but there is no doubting his talent inside it. He won his first world title by stopping Richard Commey for the IBF lightweight belt in 2019. Lopez then pulled off a shock by defeating Vasyl Lomachenko to cement his place as the best lightweight on the planet. An upset loss to George Kambosos Jr followed, but Lopez bounced back to become a two-weight division by beating Josh Taylor in New York. Lopez has since made three successful defences of his title and is now looking for his next big challenge. Shakur Stevenson has called for a fight with him in what could be an intriguing technical match-up between two classy operators. 2. Junto Nakatani Junto Nakatani is a three-division world champion and is still only 27. He is nicknamed 'Big Bang' and with good reason. Nakatani has knocked out 24 of his 31 opponents and is a superstar in his homeland of Japan. The big-punching southpaw is currently ranked number seven on The Ring's pound-for-pound list after ruling multiple weight classes. He has looked almost unbeatable in recent times, but could face the ultimate test in the near future. His fellow countryman Naoya Inoue is just one weight division above him, and a domestic showdown between two pound-for-pound stars may happen sooner rather than later. 1. Jesse Rodriguez Jesse Rodriguez is top of the tree thanks to beating world-class opposition on a consistent basis. He became the first boxer born in the 2000s to become a world champion when he beat Carlos Cuadras in 2022, and he has not looked back since. Rodriguez has seen off the likes of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards and Juan Francisco Estrada to win titles in two divisions. He added to his title collection earlier this month by stopping Phumelele Cafu in the 10th round of their unification clash at super-flyweight. Rodriguez is sixth in The Ring's pound-for-pound rankings, and with the top five all in their thirties or forties and moving towards retirement, he is likely to be on the rise again soon. Future contests with Nakatani and Inoue could happen, handing Rodriguez the chance to add to his legacy. DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Tszyu vs Fundora: The two crucial changes that could mean the difference between winning and losing
The absence of a controversial rule, coupled with a rare six-year first, could prove the difference between winning and losing in Tim Tszyu's crucial rematch with Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas this weekend. The WBC super-welterweight world title will be on the line at the MGM Grand on Sunday afternoon (Australian time), meaning the IBF's divisive rehydration clause won't be in effect. Also known as a second-day weigh-in, the IBF rule was in place when Tszyu suffered a shocking knockout loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev in Orlando in October. The rule states that fighters aren't allowed to weigh more than 10 pounds over the weight limit at a secondary weigh-in on the morning of an IBF title fight. Tszyu putting the finishing touches on camp in Las Vegas. Picture: Supplied That meant Tszyu was only able to put on about half the weight he normally does by the time he stepped into the ring with Murtazaliev. Tszyu isn't one for excuses, but he says he did notice it. 'Honestly speaking, the rehydration clause really affected me,' he told Code Sports. 'I just didn't feel the same. 'My whole body was completely different. 'If you look at (former UFC light heavyweight champion) Alex Pereira, he puts so much back on, and I'm exactly the same. The IBF rule was in place when Tim Tszyu suffered a shocking knockout loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev. Picture: Getty Images 'My body just soaks it all in, and I needed that. I didn't have any sort of water or hydration in me, and I just wasn't feeling the same.' It only took a few minutes for the consequences to show in the ring, when Murtazaliev landed a left hand to the side of Tszyu's head. It wasn't the first time Tszyu had been dropped – Wade Ryan and Terrell Gausha both caught him early as well. But this time was different. 'I've been hit with that shot plenty of times, but I keep walking through it,' he said. 'That's the truth. 'It was just that one shot that got me and I couldn't recover. Straight away, I couldn't feel my legs. 'I my head I was like, 'What am I gonna do? Run back? If I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna go out on my shield. 'Let's go out the proper way. It's kill or be killed.' Tim Tszyu was badly busted open in his loss against Sebastian Fundora in March. Picture: Getty Images Another crucial change from the Murtazaliev fight week is that, for the first time in six-and-a-half years, Tszyu isn't the main event. That honour – and the various promotional commitments and media demands that accompany it – goes to the returning great Manny Pacquiao and his opponent, WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios. It's not something Tszyu would ever admit, but his team felt he was left to carry too much of the promotional burden when he should have been focused on the fight. Murtazaliev couldn't speak English, and only did one short 10 minute press conference with travelling media in fight week, leaving Tszyu with the responsibility of selling the bout. 'It was shocking,' Tszyu's manager, Glen Jennings told Code Sports while watching him sweat it out in 40-plus degree heat in Las Vegas. 'It was just so over the top, it was ridiculous, but what do you do? For the first time in more than six years, Tim Tszyu isn't the main event. Picture: Getty Images 'You've just gotta do what you've gotta do – there was just nobody else talking. 'But it's totally different this time.' Not only will Pacquiao attract plenty of attention, but the card is stacked with high-level boxing talent who all love the sight of a microphone and a camera. 'It's a big change for Tim not to be the main event and for Tim not to have to carry it – it's a pleasant surprise,' Jennings said. 'I'm sure Tim will be busy with media, because it's still a huge fight for him – it's the most important fight of Tim's life – but the undercard is stacked. 'Brandon Figueroa is a great talker, Isaac Cruz is a celebrity, Fundora's a good talker and of course Manny Pacquiao and Barrios are there. 'There's plenty of stories to go around and that will cut Tim a bit of slack for the final week.' Bakhram Murtazaliev defeated Tim Tszyu in his most recent bout in the United States. Picture: Getty Images The last time Tszyu wasn't the main event was way back in February 2019 when he stopped Denton Vassell in two rounds in the co-main event to Paul Gallen's win over John Hopoate at the Hordern Pavilion. In the six years and 15 headline fights since then, Tszyu has replaced Gallen as Australia's leading pay-per-view star. And while he'll still be the drawcard this weekend for his massive fanbase in Australia, it's a refreshing change not being at the top of the bill. 'It doesn't feel like that long ago,' Jennings said of the Vassell knockout. 'The other added bonus is we'll be finished a bit earlier on fight night, and Manny Pacquiao will be walking out straight afterwards. 'We've never been in that scenario before. 'If everything goes well, we'll be sitting with a couple of beers and watching Manny go around again.' Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Garcia live results, round-by-round updates, ring walks, start time for WBO title fight
Uncrowned has Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Garcia and Bruce Carrington vs. Mateus Heita live results, round-by-round updates, highlights, ring walks and start time for the Zayas vs. Garcia fight card on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Rising star Zayas looks to win his first world title as he and Garcia collide for the vacant WBO super welterweight championship in another installment of boxing's age-old Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry. Puerto Rico's Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs), 22, will become boxing's youngest active major male champion with a win over Garcia. Zayas headlined a ESPN-broadcasted event for the first time in June 2024, winning a wide decision over Patrick Teixeira. Most recently, he stopped Slawa Spomer in the ninth round this past February. Mexico's Garcia (33-4, 26 KOs) scored a big upset over Charles Conwell by split decision in April to capture the WBO's No. 2 ranking and put himself in line for a vacant world title shot. In the night's battle of unbeatens co-feature, Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) looks like capture the WBC interim featherweight title against Mateus Heita (14-0, 9 KOs). The Zayas vs. Garcia fight card begins at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+, with the main card scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Main event ring walks are expected around 11 p.m. ET. Follow all of the action with Uncrowned's live results and highlights below, as well as play-by-play of the main card. Main card (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) WBO super welterweight title: Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Garcia 153 lbs WBC interim featherweight title: Bruce Carrington vs. Mateus Heita Super lightweight: Emiliano Vargas vs. Alexander Espinoza Prelims (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+) Welterweight: Rohan Polanco vs. Quinton Randall Super flyweight: Juanmita Lopez De Jesus def. Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez via second-round TKO | Watch video Featherweight: Yan Santana def. Aaron Alameda via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90) Super flyweight: Steven Navarro def. Cristopher Rios via unanimous decision (77-75, 77-75, 77-75) Lightweight: Julius Ballo def. Brandan Ayala via unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'The era of Xander Zayas': Is 22-year-old star ready to become boxing's youngest active champ?
Xander Zayas isn't a normal 22-year-old. The unbeaten Puerto Rican star, based out of Florida, sits upright in a hotel room in New York City with a broad smile plastered across his face. Despite being at the start of his 22nd fight week as a professional, Zayas is absorbing the chaos with a fresh appetite and calm. After all, this fight week isn't like those 21 previous. On Saturday night inside New York City's The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) challenges Mexican Jorge Garcia Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) for the WBO's vacant world super welterweight title, attempting to become boxing's youngest active world champion. Zayas makes a quip about me donning a New York Yankees cap. A day prior, the Yankees' rivals — the New York Mets — invited Zayas and his team to their home at Citi Field, and as he posed with a Puerto Rican jersey, he looked at home being the center of attention. 'I enjoy every part of fight week,' Zayas says candidly, perhaps convincing himself as much of the answer as me. 'It's easy to stay locked in, as this is my job — it's a privilege. The last couple of pounds will fall off this week, and once the weigh-in is done, then I can really enjoy myself. I love what I do.' Zayas's positivity and upbeat nature elicits an openness to our conversation. It's a rare thing to witness on fight week. When athletes are prodded, poked and pulled in all manner of directions while simultaneously in a painful calorie deficit, conversation and manners are — understandably — two of the first things to slip through the net. But not with Zayas. He uses my name when he answers questions and speaks with the respect and maturity of a man twice his age. 'I feel at home in New York — I guess that adds to my mood during this particular fight week,' he says. 'This will be my eighth time fighting inside the Garden and everyone always shows me so much love and respect. It's a beautiful place and soon becoming my second home. 'The Puerto Rican fan base of course helps. We are a very proud nation and are always true to ourselves. I think that is why we always support each other so strongly. We are hard workers and show dedication in whatever we do.' We are speaking just 10 days after Zayas' countrywoman — and self-described hero — Amanda Serrano sold out Madison Square Garden alongside Katie Taylor. Serrano enjoyed a noisy and passionate majority of the support inside the arena during her loss to the Irish fighter, but Zayas doesn't assume that following will naturally move his way. 'I can only do what I can do in the ring,' he explained. 'I can train hard and be prepared for every fight, but I can't decide on my supporters what title I am given. But, of course, if the fans want to label me as the next Puerto Rican star to follow, then I would be honored.' Miguel Cotto, Hector Camacho, Felix 'Tito' Trinidad, Wilfredo Gomez and Serrano are just some of the names that Zayas is happy to label as inspirations ahead of his maiden world title challenge this Saturday night, but his grounding has ultimately come from his parents. 'I am always trying to learn — whether that's from my parents or other pro athletes that have shared experiences," he says. "But the main thing in life is having that respect for other people. If you want to be respected yourself, then you have to show respect to others, and that's something I live by. We are all human beings. I am not better or more important than anyone else, so why would I act that way?' Since turning professional in 2019, Zayas has built a perfect 21-0 record under the watchful eye of his Top Rank promoters. He was the youngest fighter to sign with Bob Arum's stable since its 1973 inception, and on Saturday night, all those in the Xander Zayas business are hopeful of finishing this first chapter of his career. 'It's been very smooth up until now,' he admits. 'We've taken all the necessary steps to earn this position and have made sure that we are ready when it arrives. And that time is now. When I win on Saturday I think it's going to take a while to sink in — right now, I am just trying to treat this like any other fight. 'But that doesn't mean I can't start thinking about what a world championship win would mean to me. It would be the start of a new chapter — the era of Xander Zayas as a world champion. But that won't stop the hunger inside of me. 'I share a saying with my Dad. He'll tell me 'the world is yours,' and I'll reply with 'the world is ours.' In this fight, it's our for the taking. Our family unit is so strong that Perez doesn't just have to beat me, he has to beat the whole team. That's what makes us so strong. Everyone in the team has a specific job and they all do it to an extremely high level. So when I step into that ring, I know that I never have to do it alone. And that's powerful.' Perez is six years the senior of Zayas and has been raised as a Mexican fighter in the traditional school of hard knocks. A career-best split-decision win over the highly-rated Charles Conwell in April delivered this opportunity for 'Chino,' and it also represents the latest chapter in the long-standing rivalry between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters. 'It's always going to be fireworks when we [Puerto Ricans and Mexicans] fight,' Zayas says. "So don't expect this one to be any different. I am going out there to enjoy myself, but of course we have a strict game plan that we are looking to execute. 'Perez has shown himself as a good fighter, especially against Conwell. He has a good body attack, can be a dangerous pressure fighter and is lanky, but I believe that I am better than him in every aspect of the sport. 'Speed, power, combination punching, hand movement, foot movement, counter punching — I am superior in all these fields. He's a Mexican warrior so it's not going to be easy to make him quit, but I am going out there to prove why I am on a different level to everyone else at 154 pounds.' The fire alarm in Zayas' hotel room goes off as our conversation is partially interrupted, but he remains composed and unflappable. For him, the timing is perfect. An attempt to goad him into conversations about future fights in the division is muffled, and can wait, for now. Asked whether it means more if he were to become the youngest active male champion in the world at age 22, he shrugs his shoulders — it's as if he has matured so quickly that age is all but a number. 'It really doesn't matter what people think of me or say about me,' he concludes. 'I have one job to do and, so far, I am doing it perfectly. Saturday night is just another opportunity for me to do so, and if I am successful then I'll be even hungry for more.'
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Huge hint Tim Tszyu's boxing career is over after Aussie quits on stool against Sebastian Fundora
Tim Tszyu has been released from the hospital, but his boxing future is in serious doubt after a second brutal beat down by Sebastian Fundora. Australia's former WBO super-welterweight champion was badly outclassed on Sunday before quitting on the stool at the end of the seventh round. Tszyu was dropped in round 1, and things only got uglier from there, with the loss leaving the Aussie to ponder if continuing in the brutal sport is worth it anymore. 'I tried to give it everything, but I just couldn't do it,' Tszyu said after the fight. The Tszyu camp went to great lengths after the fight to dismiss the Aussie gave up on himself, stating it was a joint decision to throw in the towel. And while Tszyu stopped short of saying he quit after yet another defeat, his words, 'I just couldn't do it', said it all. As did the blank stare and distressed state he was in back in the dressing room after the fight, as the heavy burden of trying to carry on the Tszyu legacy appears to finally be taking its toll. The 30-year-old had been attempting to emulate his Hall of Fame dad Kostya as only the third father-son duo in boxing history to both win multiple world titles. But that dream appears now dead in the water. And Tszyu's promoter, former rugby league hard man George Rose, hinted in a statement on Sunday night that Tszyu may walk away from the sport. 'It's just a decision up to him as to what he's going to do, whether he gets back in the gym on Monday, whether he has a break, what he does,' Rose said in a statement. 'In this sport, a loss is a long time that you've got to deal with that for. 'It's not a one-week thing like most team sports, where you can move on within a week. 'A lot's got to happen on the back of it. Firstly, you've got to go medically. 'Then you've got to look at where the hunger's at, and Tim's one person you never can question his hunger or desire or the amount of application he puts in with his efforts in this sport. He rips in. 'He just fought for a world title at the MGM Grand, so while that's a really cool thing, taking a loss is a tough thing. 'I know Tim's still very talented, very capable, but it comes down to him. He's the guy who's got to put his life on the line in the ring. 'So the decision is on him, and I support him with whatever he chooses 100 per cent.' Tszyu has now lost three of his past four fights. He has been outclassed twice by Fundora and was also walloped in his title fight against Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev at the end of 2024. Whether Tszyu wishes to rebuild his career is unknown at this stage, but if he does, his road to the top is now a long one. Had Tszyu won on Sunday, his promoter No Limit was targeting a fight with a US superstar – either Keith Thurman, Jermell Charlo or Errol Spence Jr. But after a third loss in four fights, any Tszyu rebuild would now likely start back Down Under, potentially fighting Michael Zerafa – a man long seen as inferior to Tszyu. Currently, Zerafa is slated to fight on Tim's brother Nikita's August comeback card and then, should the pair both win, square off with 'The Butcher' at the end of the year. However, if Tszyu does wish to try and make a run to the top again, a fight against Zerafa – a man he was scheduled to fight back in 2021 – appears a logical place to start.
