Xander Zayas Snubbed as Vergil Ortiz Faces Israil Madrimov

In a surprising twist, Xander Zayas found himself left out of a potential fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. Instead of facing Zayas, Ortiz is gearing up to take on Israil Madrimov on February 22 in Saudi Arabia. Fans had high hopes for a Zayas vs. Ortiz matchup, but this latest development has put a damper on those dreams.

The Fight That Could Have Been

Initially, Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) was supposed to go up against Jaron Ennis, but that plan fell apart at the last minute. As the hunt for a replacement kicked into high gear, Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) jumped at the chance. He accepted the fight within a minute of being offered, clearly eager to step into the ring with the knockout artist.

However, fans were taken aback when it was announced that Madrimov, who still has to face Serhii Bohachuk on December 21, would be the one getting the shot at Ortiz instead. Zayas expressed his frustration on social media, saying, “I accepted the fight but never heard back. Did you just Bootsed me? We were all in.” His disappointment was palpable, and fans could feel his eagerness to compete against one of the top fighters in the game.

Ortiz’s Comeback and Future Plans

Ortiz didn’t shy away from addressing Zayas’ concerns. He fired back on social media, saying, “Yeah, I ‘ducked’ you to fight Madrimov. Your time will come, don’t you worry. We got bigger fish to fry over here.” This sparked quite a bit of chatter among fans, with many weighing in on the politics of boxing and how these decisions are made.

Vergil Ortiz Sr., Ortiz’s dad and head coach, also chimed in to set the record straight. He told Zayas, “Xander, you seem like a good guy; don’t act like some of these people on here. The truth is they called and asked if Vergil would fight you—it was an easy yes. They also called four other guys. You were the least accomplished, so by their standards, you were not qualified. Ask Top Rank. Good luck, champ.” This added another layer to the whole situation, shedding light on how the fight game works behind the scenes.

What’s Next for Zayas and Ortiz?

Despite this setback, Zayas is taking it in stride. He responded respectfully, saying, “I respect the business decision. It’s understandable, and I’m sure the fight will take place in the future. Good luck in February.” This shows maturity on Zayas’ part as he understands the realities of boxing and the tough decisions that come with it.

As for Ortiz, he last fought in August, where he faced off against Bohachuk in a challenging match that saw him overcome two knockdowns to earn a majority decision. With Madrimov now on the schedule, Ortiz aims to keep his undefeated streak intact while solidifying his status as one of boxing’s elite fighters. Meanwhile, Zayas will continue to seek opportunities to make a name for himself and hopefully land a high-stakes fight soon.

In the end, while Zayas might have been left in the lurch this time, both fighters are on their own paths that could eventually lead to a clash. The boxing world is watching closely, hoping for the day when these two talents can finally meet in the ring. With both fighters hungry for success, fans can look forward to what’s next in their careers.