As a professional in the gaming industry, it’s fascinating to observe how the drama in sports often parallels dynamics found in competitive gaming. On Saturday night, in an unexpected twist, Xander Zayas, the WBO mandatory challenger, found himself hitting a brick wall when attempting to set up a match against the current WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion, Sebastian Fundora. After securing a fourth-round TKO victory over Chordale Booker at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Zayas took the bold step of confronting Fundora in his dressing room, only to be rebuffed.
The evening was already charged with energy when Zayas made his way into the ring following the match, eager to stage an early showdown and set the wheels in motion for his anticipated climb up the competitive ladder. Fundora, nicknamed ‘The Towering Inferno,’ had just walked away with a victory, and Zayas was jumping on the opportunity for a face-off. However, the timing seemed premature as Fundora’s camp had yet to commit to Zayas as their next opponent.
Zayas, at just 22 years old, took a gamble by asserting his presence so strongly, and it didn’t quite pay off this time. Fundora and his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, have their sights set on matches that promise larger paydays, considering Zayas doesn’t yet hold the kind of draw needed to turn heads outside of a dedicated circle of boxing enthusiasts and his fellow Puerto Ricans.
Despite the setback, the situation remains tense. The WBO has already stipulated that Fundora must defend his title against Zayas next. This announcement came hot on the heels of the Fundora-Booker match, setting a 120-day countdown for Fundora to face his mandatory contender.
Should Fundora opt out of this obligation, he risks being stripped of his title unless he engages in a unification bout with another champion. Yet, even these options are fraught with challenges. Terence Crawford, the WBA champion, is currently unavailable, and his return to the division is uncertain. Meanwhile, facing the IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev wouldn’t necessarily boost Fundora’s profile due to Murtazaliev’s lower popularity and the inherent risks involved.
Reflecting on the post-fight atmosphere, Zayas shared with the media, “They weren’t interested in a face-off,” referencing his thwarted attempt to engage Fundora directly in the dressing room. Undeterred, he stated, “This is just the beginning. I’m the mandatory for a reason, and I’m here to initiate conversations for the future matchup.”
Zayas cemented his mandatory status following a decisive knockout of Slawa Spomer last month, on February 14th. The victory positioned him strategically, yet some argue the ease with which he achieved this rank questions its legitimacy. Spomer, based out of Germany, had never faced a world-ranked contender before their encounter, leading to debates on whether the fight should have been deemed an eliminator.
Many contend that the WBO might have better served the competition by pairing Zayas against Charles Conwell, ranked #2, for the title contender position. However, such a match might have posed a significant threat to Zayas’ burgeoning career, and Top Rank presumably would have steered clear of such high stakes.
In an industry where timing and strategy are as critical as skill and technique, Zayas finds himself in a waiting game, hoping his persistence will eventually pay off in the ring. Whether his bold move will lead to a showdown with Fundora remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the stage is set for an intriguing chapter in his career.
