Xander Zayas Becomes Youngest Active Boxing World Champion at 22

Puerto Rico's Xander Zayas has made history as boxing's youngest active world champion at 22 by winning the vacant WBO light-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Mexico's Jorge Garcia Perez at Madison Square Garden. Zayas dominated the fight using quick jabs, powerful rights, and superior distance control, outlanding Garcia with a 38% accuracy rate compared to Garcia's 21.6%, including a significant advantage in body shots. The bout marked Zayas' eighth time fighting at Madison Square Garden and ended Garcia's eight-fight winning streak. Judges scored the fight decisively in favor of Zayas with scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109, highlighting his control throughout the 12 rounds. Zayas, now 22-0 with 13 knockouts, credits his jab and tactical boxing for the victory, solidifying his place in Puerto Rico's proud boxing tradition. This achievement puts him ahead of the previous youngest active world champion, Brian Norman Jr., and draws comparisons to Puerto Rican legend Wilfred Benitez, the youngest-ever world champion at 17.