Oct 7, 2025
1 min read
Erickson Lubin opted against a full world title shot against IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, instead agreeing terms for an even more enticing opportunity when headling next month's Nov. 8 card against WBC interim beltholder Vergil...
Xander Zayas may or may not be one of the top guys at 154 pounds, but his newly won WBO title gives him a say in the division.
The 23-year-old, thanks to his July 26 win over Jorge Garcia Perez in the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, is looking for an opponent. While he continues to figure that out, he’ll watch the rest of the junior middleweight division develop.
Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) views Vergil Ortiz vs. Erickson Lubin as one of the best fights around. On paper, Ortiz is the heavy favorite on November 8 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Does it make sense? Sure. Ortiz is an undefeated knockout artist, while Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs) has a pair of stoppage losses. Even with some of Lubin's shortcomings, Zayas isn’t counting him out.
“I feel like it’s going to be a great fight,” Zayas told Fight Hook News on its YouTube channel. “He has the skills and everything that it takes to get the win. I can see an upset.”
Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) is arguably in the best form of his career. In back-to-back fights, he knocked off Serhii Bohachuk, once viewed as a top 10 junior middleweight, and former champion Israil Madrimov on February 22.
Zayas has traded his share of insults with Ortiz, who called him a "little kid," but he doesn’t have a horse in the race.
“I want the winner," he said.
Analysis
Noticias de combate
Next
Hamzah Sheeraz Won't Wait For Canelo Alvarez, Next Fight Plans Up In The Air
Can you beat Coppinger?
Lock in your fantasy picks on rising stars and title contenders for a shot at $100,000 and exclusive custom boxing merch.
Partners
