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Zayas vs. Garcia Fight Report: MSG Sends Off Top Rank on ESPN with a Bang

Another great night to be in MSG. Tonight was the last Top Rank card on ESPN, and I was there to see it through. Here’s to hoping it went out with a bang—with great fights.

Steven Navarro vs. Christopher Rios

This one started out as a bit of a phone booth fight, with both fighters getting in really good shots. Rios definitely had the more eye-catching punches, but Navarro landed some hard, thudding shots of his own. By the second round, Navarro was busted up and had a cut open, but he fought through it well.

Rios is tough—Navarro can crack, but Rios kept walking through and punching right with him, pushing him back and outpunching him with hard combinations. As the fight went on, Navarro settled down and worked cleaner. In the end, he squeaked out a close unanimous decision (67–65 x3).

Yan Santana vs. Aaron Alameda

(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

Yan came forward, walking Alameda down and finding a home for his right hand and left hook to the body—and he hits hard! Santana chose to keep the fight on the inside, and he had plenty of success. His fast hands and steady output overwhelmed Alameda.

The biggest issue with Santana is that he constantly keeps his hands low. A sharper fighter with quick hands will be able to counter him with a right or a hook upstairs. Still, that can be fixed. On this night, he did more than enough to earn a shutout unanimous decision.

Juanma Lopez De Jesús vs. Jorge Gonzalez-Sanchez

(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

Juanma’s son did not get paid by the hour, and he fought like it. He blasted out Gonzalez-Sanchez in the first round, sending the Puerto Rican crowd into a frenzy.

Rohan Polanco vs. Quinton Randall

(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

Polanco had a very tough time against the spoiler style of Randall. He threw more punches, but had trouble landing cleanly, with many shots grazing the back and top of the head. At times, things got chippy—Polanco even hit Randall after the bell.

Randall, however, made no effort to put himself in danger of being stopped. As a result, Polanco cruised to an easy unanimous decision. The performance left fans divided about Polanco’s upside. We’ll see how he does as he climbs the ladder toward title contention.

Emiliano Vargas vs. Alexander Espinoza

(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

Vargas treated his fight like he wasn’t getting paid by the hour. In the very first round, he landed a hook that sent Espinoza crashing to the canvas. The referee quickly waved it off.

It was a statement win for Emiliano, who continues to generate excitement as he moves up the ranks toward tougher competition.

Bruce Carrington vs. Mateus Halta

(Courtesy: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

The local New Yorker Carrington had plenty of fans in the building, but what they got may not have been exactly what they wanted. Shu Shu had good moments, but Halta managed to catch him several times with right hands.

Carrington adjusted by attacking the body and landed several shots that clearly got Halta’s attention. Still, he often spent too much time admiring his work. He’d throw two eye-catching punches, then freeze instead of sustaining his attack. At times, the crowd grew restless and even booed during a couple of rounds.

Ultimately, Shu Shu outpointed Halta with ease to win a wide decision. The question remains: how will he look when he steps up against a champion? There will be believers, and there will be doubters. It’s up to Carrington to make everyone believe.

Main Event: Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Garcia

The night closed with Xander Zayas’ chance to prove himself as a world champion. His opponent, rugged Jorge Garcia, was coming off a big upset win over Charles Conwell. Could lightning strike twice?

Not this time. Garcia spent most of the fight swinging wildly, while Zayas controlled him with steady one-twos. Garcia was hurt several times, but Zayas failed to capitalize fully. As the rounds wore on, the pace slowed—Garcia grew gun-shy, and Zayas seemed to fade slightly, possibly due to a tough weight cut.

Even then, Zayas cruised to an easy decision win. Afterward, he stated his desire to defend his title in Puerto Rico and called out Sebastian Fundora.

article written by King P

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HITCHINS DOMINATES KAMBOSOS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN by King P

Mandatory Credit: Geoffrey Knott/MatchroomBoxing

New York, NY – The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden was the site of a dominant performance by hometown favorite Richardson Hitchins, who successfully defended his junior welterweight title with an eighth-round stoppage of former unified champion George Kambosos. The fight marked a full-circle moment for many fans who were in attendance four years ago when Kambosos shocked the world by defeating Teofimo Lopez in the same building. This time, however, it was Hitchins who left no room for surprises.

A Strong Undercard Sets the Stage

The event began with a series of exciting preliminary bouts that showcased emerging talent across multiple weight classes.

Adam Maca vs. Rafael Castillo: In his professional debut, Adam Maca wasted no time establishing himself. He overwhelmed Castillo with nonstop aggression and secured a stoppage in the second round, making an emphatic first impression.

Nishant Dev vs. Josue Silva: The fight started slowly but picked up pace by the end of the first round. Dev utilized his reach and effective one-two combinations to control the action, ultimately earning a dominant unanimous decision victory.

Mandatory Credit: Geoffrey Knott/MatchroomBoxing

Zaquin Moses vs. Carl Rogers: Moses, the Newark native, looked composed and powerful from the outset. He dropped Rogers in the fourth round with a hard right hand and continued his assault until the referee stepped in. Moses’ size and strength were on full display throughout.

Mandatory Credit: Geoffrey Knott/MatchroomBoxing

Teremoana Teremoana vs. Akeem Whitfield: Teremoana delivered the evening’s quickest finish with a stunning first-round knockout. A single well-placed punch ended the fight in dramatic fashion.

Andy Cruz Shines in the Co-Main Event

Mandatory Credit: Geoffrey Knott/MatchroomBoxing

Rising star Andy Cruz took on Hironori Mishori in the co-main. After a measured start, Cruz turned up the intensity in the third round, landing crisp combinations and dropping Mishori twice. The referee stopped the bout in the fifth round. Cruz celebrated with the crowd and later called out Keyshawn Davis in the post-fight interview, referring to him as his “son” and expressing a strong desire for a rematch.

Hitchins’ Clinic: Methodical, Precise, and Punishing

Mandatory Credit: Geoffrey Knott/MatchroomBoxing

In the main event, Richardson Hitchins delivered a disciplined and dominant performance. From the opening bell, Hitchins controlled the distance with his jab and precise straight right hands. Kambosos had difficulty closing the gap, and Hitchins took full advantage of his size and reach.

The fifth round proved pivotal, as Hitchins landed a punishing body shot that visibly hurt Kambosos. Though the Australian veteran managed to survive the round, the damage was accumulating. By the eighth round, Hitchins unleashed a series of body blows that sent Kambosos to the canvas. The referee had seen enough and waved off the fight, awarding Hitchins the TKO victory

Looking Ahead: Haney and Lopez in the Crosshairs

At the post-fight press conference, Hitchins made his future intentions clear. He called out both Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez as potential opponents. Both fighters are managed by Keith Connelly, who acknowledged the challenges of matching two of his own clients but expressed willingness to make the fights if both camps agree.

Final Thoughts

Richardson Hitchins didn’t just win—he impressed. With a mature, commanding performance against a former champion, he proved that he’s ready for elite names in the 140-pound division. With Haney and Lopez on his radar, Hitchins might soon find himself in one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups.