Xander Zayas to Show out Puerto Rican Day Parade Weekend!

June 8th, Puerto Rican sensation Xander Zayas will take on Brazilian former world champion Patrick Texiera in a 10-round junior middleweight clash. The fight will take place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Xander Zayas has made it a tradition to fight Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend and has gather quite a following of Puerto Rican fans who look to see this prospects progress as he continues to amaze every fight. In the co-feature we also have Bruce Carrington and Jose Enrique Vivas in a 10-round featherweight battle. Top Rank has always taken pride with their Puerto Rican day parade weekend cards which started back when Miguel Cotto was still fighting. The fight will be presented live via ESPN/ESPN+ starting at 11pm ET/ 8pm PT.

“This is a great New York City card featuring two young men, Xander Zayas and Bruce Carrington, who are poised to become two of the sport’s biggest stars,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Our Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend cards are always special, and I can’t wait for another raucous atmosphere.”

Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) who signed with Top Rank at 16 has been on a straight upward trajectory to stardom since debuting as a pro in October of 2019. In August of 2022 he captured his first regional title via TKO victory against Elias Espadas. Zayas followed up with an eight-round decision against Alexis Salazar in December. The next year Zayas beat Ronald Cruz and Roberto Valenzuela Jr. then ended the year in emphatic fashion with a 5th round knockout against Spanish contender Jorge Fortea.

Zayas said, “Representing Puerto Rico on a date in which Boricua culture is celebrated and honored represents a sacred commitment that I have with my people. On June 8, I won’t just be fighting for myself. I’ll be fighting for each and every Puerto Rican who always perseveres when the going gets tough. This is my first main event and my first fight against a former world champion. And I plan on carrying my flag and making it shine on one of the world’s biggest stages, ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”

Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) shocked the boxing world by upsetting Carols Adames to capture the interim WBO junior middleweight title in November of 2019. Texiera has notable wins against Adrian Perez via first round knockout in November of 2022 and a second-round stoppage against Carlos Rivero as well as a fourth-round TKO against Edisson Saltarin in March. Texiera will be looking to halt the Puerto Rican sensations Xander Zayas’ trajectory to stardom come fight night.

Teixeira said, “It took longer than expected, but this fight is finally here. I can’t wait to get in the ring and put the division on notice. I did it once before when I won my world title against Adames on a Top Rank show, and I’m going to do it again with one of their rising stars. Zayas is a great talent, and everyone there will be supporting him during that important weekend. But my experience will make the difference, and I’ll show that on June 8.”

Carrington (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials champion, has rapidly ascended the ranks since turning pro in October 2021. The 27-year-old secured five victories in 2023, including a second-round TKO against former world title challenger Jason Sanchez. In his last outing, he blasted out Bernard Torres with a right hook at The Theater in February. The stoppage went viral and was a SportsCenter Top 10 highlight.

Carrington said, “Vivas should be my toughest opponent to date, but as I do every time I fight in Shu York City, I’m going to put on a crowd-pleasing performance. It’s special to fight in front of the great Puerto Rican fans. I can’t wait for June 8.”

Vivas (23-3, 12 KOs), a tenacious 29-year-old Mexican, enjoyed an undefeated 17-0 run before encountering his first pro defeat at the hands of Ruben Villa in September 2019. He bounced back with a four-fight winning spree, including a 10-round decision over then-unbeaten Carlos Jackson in July 2020 and an eight-round triumph against Louie Coria the following May. Despite a majority points loss to eventual title challenger Eduardo Baez in March 2022, Vivas rebounded with a win over Edy Valencia before losing to Joet Gonzalez last April. In February, he scored a first-round TKO against Jonathan Aguilar.

Make sure to tune in come fight night or head down to The Theatre at MSG and don’t miss out on this action-packed card!