XANDER Zayas delivered a near-punch-perfect display in his chief supporting slot, outboxing, busting up and breaking down a brave Slawa Spomer in nine rounds in New York’s Madison Square Garden Theater.
Successfully defending his NABF and WBO NABO super-welterweight straps, more importantly Zayas reaffirmed his status as a major player at 154 and likely future world champion. Spomer never stopped pitching but was too small and unable to make any consistent dent. Referee Charlie Fitch jumped in at 2-01 of the ninth as Spomer felt the lasting effects of yet another body attack.
Zayas had been hunting downstairs from the get-go. Referee Fitch warned Zayas about a round one low blow. However, most of the warning signs were in Spomer’s direction as his nose dripped blood due to some sharp left hooks from the fight favourite, who turned pro with Top Rank at 16 and was enjoying his seventh appearance at Madison Square Garden.
Spomer’s grit and determination were never in doubt, but Zayas’ longer arms were wreaking havoc, slashing the German-based contender as he tried to feint inside under the instructions of trainer Roy Jones Jr.
Zayas’ body shots strayed low again in the fourth as Spomer felt the effects of a left hand blast south of the border. Zayas piled on the pressure only to ship a surprise right hand from his 32-year-old foe, fighting for the first time in the United States.
Third man Charlie Fitch had been hovering around the onslaught. Spomer showed why he arrived with a three-fight KO streak, remaining dangerous until dispatched. That dispatching would soon arrive. Not before Zayas landed another low blow in round five. The potential for a point deduction loomed over the Puerto Rican’s head as television screens were consulted by officials in real-time.
Instead, he kept things legal and raised the pace back up in the ninth (of a scheduled 10), prompting a stoppage. Xander Zayas improved his record to 21-0 (13 KOs). Slawa Spomer, originally from Kyrgyzstan, lost for the first time, dropping to 20-1 (11 KOs).
