Vito Mielnicki Jr. is asking for a major step up in class against Xander Zayas, calling for the fight on social media and offering to meet the former unified light middleweight champion at Madison Square Garden or in Puerto Rico.
Mielnicki’s win over Austin Williams has put him in position to pursue a bigger fight. Zayas would test whether Vito’s fairly basic style can take him much further against opponents with championship experience.
“Nothing but respect for my guy @xander.zayas, but this is the fight that needs to happen!!” Mielnicki wrote. “The big room at MSG or in Puerto Rico.”
Vito deserves credit for seeking it, especially with Puerto Rico among his proposed locations. He has been matched well and kept mostly out of harm’s way. The Williams victory was a good result, although Austin had already been softened up by defeats against Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Zayas would bring quicker combinations and a more polished offensive game. This could be as high as Mielnicki goes unless he shows more versatility than he has needed through much of his career.
It’s also a good fight for the Top Rank-promoted Zayas. He has the skills to beat Vito through boxing or trading, with enough firepower to make an offensive approach worth watching.
The concern is whether Xander chooses to use it. His movement and holding against Jorge Garcia Perez and Abass Baraou produced wins without consistently showing how entertaining his offense could be. Taking that same approach against Mielnicki would be a disappointing choice against an opponent he should be able to attack.
Zayas tried boxing Jaron Ennis, found little success, and eventually traded before being stopped. Vito doesn’t present the same threat. Xander should have more opportunities to plant his feet and throw combinations without facing the punishment Ennis delivered.
Eddie Hearn has proposed interim fights for both before a summer meeting. Nothing is signed, but Mielnicki has made his interest clear. If it happens, Vito gets a chance to prove his ceiling is higher than it looks, while Zayas gets an opportunity to win with some excitement.