WBO Xander Zayas Title Protection Strategy: Why Josh Kelly is the anticipated opponent in December

Fans predict that Xander Zayas will make his first defense of his WBC’s Junior Mid -weight title against #3 Josh Kelly in December in Puerto Rico. It is a battle that fits the Top Rank’s protective method towards Zayas’ career.

Matchup Kelly is expected

Josh Kelly (17-1-1, 9 ko) is not a threat to beat Xander compared to the fighters he mentioned last Saturday after his victory over Jorge Garcia. British fighter Kelly has won his last seven contests against opposition at a domestic level since being cast out by David Avanesyan in 2021. Kelly showed that he had not improved much over the previous four years when he came close to losing to Ishmael Davis last September.

Zayas (22-0, 13 ko) expressed an interest in fighting CLC champion Sebastian Fundora, IBF Bakhram Champion Murtazaliev, and temporary CLLC champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. Those are all fighting that Zayas would likely lose quite poorly.

Fundora is the one that Zayas mentioned wanting to fight most. It does not fit into the probable title plan that the highest position for Xander will have. They are built in the same way as they did with Edgar Berlanga, matching him against cans. He is basically Berlanga 2.0 With how Top Rank has paired it. He is just as vulnerable as Edgar. The only difference is that Zayas comes from Puerto Rico. It does not puzzle.

Astronomical motion is required

#4 WBO Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a fighter that fans would like to see Zayas fight, but that has no chance of happening without his champion, Eddie Hearn, making an astronomical offer. It would have to be an unreal number, likely in the $ 10 million range, because the highest position would not be such a fight knowing that Zayas would lose.

However, they would not refuse a crazy offer like that. That’s money Xander will never see in his career without holding on to his WBO title for many years. That would be impossible given his limited ability.

If Turki Alalshikh came through for Hearn, he could think of the money to set up a fight between Zayas and Ennis for one of his Riyadh season events. However, the highest position could drag their feet, want to do so Keep Zayas T -protectedo Continue to build a record against smaller opposition. They have done a great job so far with Zayas, as they take him to a world title without fighting against any solid fighters.