Boxers Edgar Berlanga and Xander Zayas win unanimously, but there is still work to be done

Boxers Edgar Berlanga and Xander Zayas both went undefeated in New York on Saturday, but their decisive victories leave them in very different ways.

For Zayas, it is another step in its development. With just 19 he seems to improve in every fight, and his performance against Quincy LaVallais was no different.

Berlanga, on the other hand, tried to dispel the disappointment of his October victory over Marcelo Esteban Coceres. Instead, there remains much doubt about how far Berlanga can go after his victory against Steve Rolls.

Here’s what we learned from Saturday night’s fights:

Berlanga does not impress

Having built up a reputation as a knockout artist, Berlanga’s recent move continues with a second consecutive lethargic effort. He earned another 10-round unanimous decision victory at 168 pounds. Unlike his fight in October, Berlanga was never knocked down or in any trouble, but he still did not impress – and this time it happened on an even bigger stage as he placed a top rank on the ESPN map at the Hulu Theater in Madison did. Square Garden.

The problems were many for Berlanga. Rolls used his legs to box from the outside, imagining a moving goal, and Berlanga did not cut the ring effectively. Instead, he plotted a step too slowly around as he followed the rolls.

When Berlanga was in a position to attack, he did so often without the same confidence that led him to 16 first-round KOs in his first 16 fights. This version of Berlanga winged Haymakers without respect for its own safety.

In his first match after a knockdown in surgery to repair a torn biceps, Berlanga seems to be hesitant when he throws his patented power shots.

He never fired with reckless dismissal and never threatened to put roles away. A fighter that was discontinued as a KO machine now seems anything but.

Berlanga is only 24 years old and remains rough. He’s only boxed 44 laps in the pros, and there is still time to move on and refine his tools. But the question is that he is already an attraction, and fighting in the main event means better opposition.

Berlanga is certainly not ready for anyone in the top 10 in the division, and even a pair can be too much. Berlanga will probably look at someone at the level of Coceres or Rolls again, but he will soon need a knockout to rebuild his confidence and also the hype that once surrounded him.

Zayas flashes, but he’s still working

Xander Zayas is clearly a talented prospect, and it’s not just because of his immense physical tools. Zayas struggles with patience and discipline, lowering his age (19) and inexperience (13 pro bouts).

Zayas (13-0, 10 KOs), from San Juan, Puerto Rico, carefully selected his shots and placed during his decision victory over Quincy LaVallais. When he injured LaVallais in the second round, Zayas attacked aggressively but not recklessly. He managed to mix up some body shots, and most importantly, he showed more focus on the head movement.

Zayas was planning for eight laps for the first time in his career and proved he has the stamina to keep the distance. What else did he prove? Not much really. Against such an overwhelming opponent (LaVallais was a loss for a prospect in Nicaragua), there was not much opportunity to show Zayas’ other skills.

It was a one-sided blow from the opening bell, and LaVallais was very happy to absorb the penalty and survive. He rarely let go of his hands, instead choosing to lay on the ropes and try to take upward shots.

Zayas remains a work in progress, but he is still improving. The best way to get Zayas closer to realizing his potential is to hugely increase his competition in his next outing.