WBO #5, WBA #11 junior middleweight standout Xander Zayas (16-0, 10 KOs) successfully defended his NABO and NABF belts against Ronald Cruz (18-3-1, 12 KOs) in the Taylor-Teofimo co-feature on Saturday night in front of a sold-out Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Zayas dropped Cruz in round one but was forced to go the full eight. Cruz took a lot of punches but never quit. Scores were 80-71 3x.
WBO #11 junior lightweight contender and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição (17-2, 8 KOs) and Nicolas Polanco (20-4-1, 11 KOs) ended in a no contest after a second round head clash left Polanco in bad shape.
Unbeaten jr welterweight Omar Rosario (11-0, 3 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over Jan Carlos Rivera (8-2, 6 KOs). Scored 77-75 3x.
Unbeaten heavyweight Damian Knyba (12-0, 7 KOs) took an eight round unanimous decision against 39-year-old journeyman Helaman Olguin (9-6-1, 4 KOs). Scores were 79-73 3x.
Unbeaten featherweight prospect Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (8-0, 5 KOs) got an eighth round referee’s stoppage against Luis Porozo (16-7, 9 KOs). Time was 2:17. One-sided fight, but Porozo wasn’t hurt so the late stoppage seemed unwarranted.
Unbeaten WBA #7, WBO #7 jr lightweight Henry Lebron (18-0, 10 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Carlos Ramos (17-3, 10 KOs). Lebron dropped Ramos in rounds eight and ten en route to a 97-91, 98-90, 98-90 verdict.
The clash of head between Conceição vs. Polanco, did not seem so severe.
Somehow I found Polanco a bit theatrical and giving mixed messages: I am dizzy, & I cannot see, but as soon as they wanted to stop the fight, he wanted to fight.
I thought Zayas looked really good and I t hink they’re moving him along very well with the opponents he’s in against. It also looks like he’s been watching quite a bit of Shakur Stevenson with that straight shot to the body. At 20 years old, I think he’s doing MAJOR things in just 3-4 years.