The State Farm Arena hosted a top young prospect as he made his ESPN debut. Puerto Rican boxing prodigy Xander Zayas took on 30-year-old Dan Karpency in a six-round junior lightweight bout. Zayas proved to be too quick for Dan Karpency, a fighter who had never been stopped before.
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After the fourth round, Karpency’s corner stopped the fight as their boxer took too much punishment from the Puerto Rican without dishing out any significant damage. Hence, Zayas claimed his fifth win in 2021 and moved to 11-0 overall. The young prospect out-landed his opponent by 61 punches.
Fight stopped @trboxing @espnukboxing @XanderZayas the present the future #herringstevenson #perfectingathletes #inGodwetrust #intheringwithchriatine pic.twitter.com/EcH2bBWtCD
— In The Ring With Christine (@InTheRingWithC1) October 24, 2021
Xander, who is looking to become the next big thing in boxing, started off strong and used his body shots well.
In the second round, he knocked Karpency’s mouth guard out. Throughout the fight, Zayas controlled the distance and maintained the tempo. Karpency could not handle the hand speed and head movement of the 19-year-old Puerto Rican.
"We have just witnessed greatness." @Timbradleyjr has the highest praise for @XanderZayas following the 19-year-old's strong showing. 📈👀 #HerringStevenson | LIVE on ESPN pic.twitter.com/T259wsJzK5
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 24, 2021
In the third round as well, Zayas knocked Karpency’s mouthpiece out. Zayas used his reach advantage very well, moving in and out of his range while dealing combos to the head and body.
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Zayas came out of the fight relatively unscathed, as Karpency found it hard to even land a punch on the teenager.
Xander Zayas aims for a sixth fight in 2021
Immediately after the fight, in the post-fight interview, Zayas made it clear that he would try his best to fight again in December. As he made good on his pre-fight promise, fans should expect him to step through the ropes in December.
Before the fight, he had said, “I am grateful to Top Rank and ESPN for this opportunity. Fighting underneath a main event like Herring-Stevenson, in front of the great Atlanta fans, is an honor.”
🇵🇷 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 🇵🇷@XanderZayas puts on a dominant performance in his ESPN debut, earning the TKO victory. 🌟#HerringStevenson pic.twitter.com/ppeW5qHHje
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 24, 2021
“It will also be my first time fighting on ESPN as a co-feature, and I will not disappoint. My goal is to win Prospect of the Year, and I’m coming to Atlanta to put on a spectacular show. Don’t miss it.”
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He certainly put on a show and will look for an encore if he fights for the sixth time in 2021. Will he get an opponent that quickly? Who do you think Zayas should fight next?
