The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has officially sanctioned a championship bout between Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez to determine the new WBO Junior Middleweight Champion, according to WBO President Gustavo Olivieri.
The title was recently vacated by Sebastian Fundora, who was stripped of the belt after opting for a rematch with Tim Tszyu instead of fulfilling his mandatory defense against Zayas.
This highly anticipated matchup, expected to be finalized in the coming days, is poised to add a new chapter to the storied Mexico-Puerto Rico boxing rivalry.
Background and Context
Sebastian Fundora, known as “The Towering Inferno” for his extraordinary 6’5½” frame in the 154-pound division, captured the WBO Junior Middleweight title in March 2024 with a split decision victory over Tim Tszyu.
Fundora also claimed the vacant WBC belt in that fight, making him a unified champion. However, his decision to prioritize a lucrative rematch with Tszyu, scheduled for July 19, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, led to his failure to comply with the WBO’s mandatory defense order against No. 1 contender Xander Zayas.
On May 2, 2025, the WBO Championship Committee unanimously voted to strip Fundora of his title, declaring it vacant and opening the door for Zayas to face the next-ranked contender, Jorge Garcia Perez.
The Contenders
Xander Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs): The 22-year-old Puerto Rican sensation is a rising star in the junior middleweight division.
Promoted by Top Rank, Zayas has been carefully groomed for stardom, with seven of his professional fights taking place at Madison Square Garden or its Theater, echoing the path of Puerto Rican boxing icon Miguel Cotto. Zayas earned his mandatory challenger status after a ninth-round technical knockout of Slawa Spomer in a WBO title eliminator. Known for his slick boxing style and strategic movement, Zayas lacks elite knockout power but compensates with technical prowess and ring intelligence.
His youth and relative inexperience at the world championship level remain his primary challenges, but a victory over Perez could cement his status as a breakout star in New York and Puerto Rico.
Jorge Garcia Perez (33-4, 26 KOs): The 30-year-old Mexican contender is coming off a career-defining upset, defeating previously unbeaten Charles Conwell by split decision on April 19, 2025.
Perez’s aggressive, power-punching style and combination punching make him a formidable opponent. Ranked No. 2 by the WBO, Perez has expressed eagerness to challenge for a world title, stating, “If it’s Sebastian Fundora, he’s welcome. If it’s the other champions, they’re welcome.”
His experience and knockout-heavy record pose a significant test for Zayas, though his defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited by a disciplined boxer like Zayas.
The Zayas-Perez bout represents a critical opportunity for both fighters to claim their first major world title. For Zayas, a win would validate Top Rank’s investment in his development and position him as a potential pay-per-view draw in the competitive 154-pound division.
For Perez, capturing the WBO belt would solidify his upset over Conwell and establish him as a legitimate force in a division stacked with talent, including names like Vergil Ortiz Jr., Bakhram Murtazaliev, and Brian Norman Jr.
The fight also carries cultural significance, pitting Puerto Rico against Mexico in a rivalry that has produced some of boxing’s most memorable battles, from Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez to Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Hector Camacho.
Fans on social media have already begun hyping the matchup as a clash of national pride, with some speculating that Zayas’s technical style will neutralize Perez’s power, while others believe Perez’s aggression could overwhelm the younger fighter.
According to reports, the WBO expects negotiations between Top Rank (Zayas’s promoter) and Xanfer Boxing (Perez’s promoter) to conclude by Friday, May 9, 2025, to avoid a purse bid.
The organization is targeting an August 2025 date for the fight, though the location remains unconfirmed. Zayas has expressed a preference for fighting at Madison Square Garden, where he enjoys strong fan support, but he has also stated his willingness to “go to the moon” for a shot at the title.
The WBO’s decision to stream purse bids live, as announced by Olivieri, underscores its commitment to transparency in the process.
Fundora’s Fallout
Fundora’s decision to vacate the WBO title has sparked debate within the boxing community. Some fans and analysts on social media have accused him of “ducking” Zayas, citing the Puerto Rican’s defensive style as a potential threat to Fundora’s high-volume, pressure-based approach. Others argue that the Tszyu rematch, fueled by Australian pay-per-view demand, was a smarter business move for the 27-year-old Californian, who retains his WBC title and remains a top dog in the division.
Fundora’s team did not request an exemption from the WBO for the Tszyu fight, a procedural misstep that contributed to the immediate stripping of his title.
The Zayas-Perez fight is expected to be a competitive and fan-friendly affair, with Zayas’s youth and finesse pitted against Perez’s experience and power.
The winner will inherit a prestigious title in a division historically known for producing stars, from Oscar De La Hoya to Canelo Alvarez.
Meanwhile, Fundora’s rematch with Tszyu will keep the junior middleweight landscape dynamic, with potential unification bouts looming if he retains his WBC belt. The WBO’s swift action to fill the vacant title ensures that the division remains active, setting the stage for a thrilling summer and fall in boxing’s 154-pound class.
