Xander Zayas vs. Jorge Garcia: Preview, Betting Odds & Fight Card

The eight-year exclusive relationship will be coming to an end shortly, but not before one of their young star in the making gets his first title shot.

22-year-old undefeated junior middleweight contender Xander Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) will face Jorge Garcia (33-4, 26 KOs) for the vacant WBO title once held by WBC champion Sebastian Fundora. The event will be held at the Theater Madison Square Garden in New York City, and it also represents the final Top Rank show on ESPN.

Zayas has been chomping at the bit for a world title opportunity, and he thought it would be against Fundora, but that changed when “The Towering Inferno” decided to honor a rematch clause with Tim Tszyu instead of fighting Zayas. The WBO stepped in and then ordered the Zayas vs. Garcia fight.

Garcia earned his title shot by scoring a huge, split decision victory over Charles Conwell in April. That night, Garcia proved he can perform at the world-class level and is now in a position to do it again, although he will have to do so in front of a mostly pro-Zayas crowd. Who will leave NYC with the WBO crown on Saturday night?

Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia Betting Odds

Per DraftKings SportsBook, Xander Zayas is the favorite at -400, and Jorge Garcia is the underdog at +290.

Xander Zayas vs Jorge Garcia Date, Start Time

• Date: Saturday, July 19
• Start time: 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT
• Main event ringwalks (approx): 11:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. PT

These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.