Fundora vs. Zayas Is a Potential Fight of the Year. Make It Happen Now
On 26 July at New York’s Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, 22-year-old Puerto Rican Xander Zayas claimed a world title against Jorge García Pérez—a matchup that came together after the originally planned bout fell through.
They fought for the vacant WBO belt, which had belonged to Sebastian Fundora before he declined to make his mandatory defense. By contract, after the first Tszyu fight, Fundora was obliged to grant Tim Tszyu an immediate rematch if requested. Tszyu did ask for it, with only Fundora’s remaining WBC title on the line.
Thus, on 19 July, Fundora—holding fewer belts—still won. In the rematch, Tszyu was stopped inside the distance when his corner withdrew him after round seven.
But Fundora–Zayas remains very much alive—and even more compelling than before. Zayas was a challenger then; now a unification is on the table.
We compared statistics from Fundora’s and Zayas’s last two fights to judge current form and spot tactical or technical shifts. A team of professional judges tallied the key metrics: total punches thrown, jab work, power punching, and accuracy for both potential opponents. Here’s what the numbers say.
Fundora Is One of Today’s Best Champion–Aggressors
It’s no secret that Sebastian Fundora is relentlessly aggressive. Given his wingspan and height, you’d expect a rangy, keep-away style. Instead, he breaks opponents down. A striking fact: at a fighting weight of 69.9 kg, Fundora stands 197 cm with a 203 cm reach. For comparison, Sebastian has the same height as Oleksandr Usyk’s reach (the Ukrainian is 191 cm tall).
Fundora doesn’t sit back as a cautious counterpuncher; he aims to overwhelm. He uses his size well up close, strings combinations together at mid-range, and leans into power shots.
The stats back it up. Across his last two fights, Fundora landed 19.2% of his power punches. Add in the size advantage—his “comfortable mid-range” is much farther out than his opponent’s—and you’ve got a nightmare to solve. Multiply that by his engine: he smoothly raises the pace as the fight goes long. Beating him demands not just technical answers but serious conditioning.
He isn’t perfect. That’s why Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., upon moving to 154, were eyeing him. For example, his jab accuracy is low—7.4% on average of late—well below typical champion rates. Overall connect percentage is modest too, around 13%.
Against Booker, whom Fundora demolished, he landed 25% of all punches. Versus Tszyu, that figure fell to 8%, despite a huge output (654 punches in seven rounds).
The lesson: in pro boxing you don’t have to be flawless to succeed—you need to maximize your strengths. Fundora does that brilliantly. He’s durable, huge, wiry-strong, and focuses on pressure, volume, and thudding shots. On average over his last two fights he threw 500+ punches per bout, 92.4% of them aimed to the head. To stop that march, you must be ready in every dimension—physical, technical, and tactical.
Zayas Has the Statistical Edge — But No Guarantees He Can Cash It In
Technically, Xander Zayas looks like one of the most schooled and savvy boxers not just at Super-Welterweight but among Puerto Ricans overall. He can press or box second—comfortable either way. He puts together crisp combinations, mixing head and body, and feasts on opponents’ mistakes.
Across key recent metrics, Zayas leads Fundora. He’s more accurate overall—21.6% to 13%. He jabs better—16.9% to 7.4%. And he’s more efficient with power—27% vs. Fundora’s 19.2%.
He showcased that edge in both of his last fights—each a pivotal step (first for mandatory status, then for a title). He even improved across the board the second time, including limiting opponents’ effectiveness. Spomer landed 24% of his power shots (Zayas posted 33% in that category), while García connected with only 10% of his power punches (Zayas logged 21%).
Still, that doesn’t guarantee Zayas wins a unification. Styles make fights—and so does opposition level. Spomer and García are quality; the giant Fundora with his tempo and volume is another beast entirely.
Zayas has averaged just over 500 punches per fight in his last outings, similar volume to Fundora at first glance. The catch: Fundora amassed his total over 11 rounds (four vs. Booker, seven vs. Tszyu); Zayas needed 21 rounds (nine vs. Spomer, twelve vs. García).
Incoming fire matters, too. Zayas’s foes combined to throw 533 punches at him over 21 rounds—about 25 punches per round (618 from García, 447 from Spomer). Fundora, in his last two fights, averaged 46 punches per round himself. That’s a gulf.
A Unification That Screams “Fight of the Year” Contender
This is exactly the kind of matchup that proves the importance of smart matchmaking. Fundora is 27; Zayas is 22. Both are fresh, strong, and willing to work for 12 hard rounds.
Each will face unique problems. Zayas is an excellent all-around boxer, though he lacks that single fight-stopping shot to make Fundora think twice. But his footwork, combination punching, and counter-boxing are top-tier—and with his efficiency, he can cause a ton of trouble for an aggressor.
On the flip side, Fundora might be the most active and aggressive opponent of Zayas’s career—if this happens. Zayas handles pressure well and can punch in the pocket while being hit. He’s clever. But it’s one thing to do that against prior opposition; it’s another against a much bigger man who can fire 50 punches a round, most of them meaningful. There’s a real risk of facing a foe who isn’t deterred by counters and drowns you in combinations.
Stylistically, this is one of 2025’s best fights to make. It won’t lose intrigue later—but fans want it now, so why wait?