21 year old Xander Zayas will face off with Jorge Fortea, 32, in a 10-round junior middleweight category bout on 9th December, 2023. Pembroke Pines, Florida, will be the center stage for one of the most anticipated fights as the year comes to a close.
Puerto Rica’s Zayas (17-0, 11 KO), 21, is back after missing the first half of 2023, when he stopped Roberto Valenzuela Jr. Having made his professional debut in October 2019, Zayas’ rise to stardom began at the age of sixteen when he first signed with Top Rank.
Fortea from Spain (24-3-1, 9 KOs), who sits just one spot behind Zayas in the latest BoxRec’s rankings, got outclassed by Bakhram Murtazaliev and Anthony Fowler in his earlier greatest fights.
In addition to his current winning streak, Jorge Fortea previously held the WBC Latino 154-pound title. With 13-years of professional boxing under his belt , Fortea fought Ismael Flores and defeated him by decision in April. On the other hand, by winning his third fight of the year, Zayas aims to solidify his title candidacy.
“I am super motivated to close the year with one more fight in which I will be able to continue demonstrating the progress of my skills and maturity as a fighter, which I have achieved thanks to the dedication and all the hard work in the gym. The goal on December 9 is to continue showing that I am prepared for the next step,” said Zayas in media reports.
“I’m eager to end the year on a high. The December 9 fight is all about showcasing my evolved skills, proving I’m ready for bigger challenges,” added Zayas.
During the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend in June 2023, Zayas defeated Ronald Cruz by unanimous decision in 10 rounds,
“We’re set for a great evening in South Florida. Ramirez faces a significant test against a challenger who remains unyielding, while Zayas aims to resonate with his vast South Florida followers,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum as he voiced his excitement while talking to the media on the fights slated for 9th December in Florida.
