Cortes Scores Decision Over Garcia

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing promotion returned to the intimate Meta APEX in Las Vegas with its fifth event, headlined by a 10-round lightweight clash between undefeated hometown favorite Andres Cortes (25-0, 13 KOs) and tough southpaw contender Eridson Garcia (23-2, 14 KOs). Streamed exclusively on Paramount+, the card delivered a mix of dominant decisions, highlight-reel knockouts, statement stoppages, and at least one notable upset across seven bouts. 

Cortes, moving up from super featherweight for his Zuffa and lightweight debut, controlled the action from range and inside to earn a clear unanimous decision with scores of 97-92, 96-93, and 95-94. Garcia, who entered on a six-fight win streak (including a notable upset victory), was warned multiple times for holding and deducted a point in round 4 for excessive clinching. CompuBox statistics underscored Cortes’ efficiency: he landed 95 of 366 punches compared to Garcia’s 67 of 387. 

Main Event Breakdown and Key Moments

The bout was tactical rather than explosive. Cortes used sharp two- and three-punch combinations, then circled away to neutralize Garcia’s pressure. Garcia struggled to find rhythm, often holding to slow the pace when Cortes worked effectively on the inside with body and head shots.

• Early to Mid-Rounds: Cortes dictated distance while Garcia sought counters. The holding warnings escalated, culminating in the point deduction that widened the gap.

• Later Rounds: Cortes grew more confident, closing the distance and outworking Garcia in exchanges. By rounds 7–10, he comfortably managed the fight without taking significant damage.

• Post-Fight: Cortes acknowledged the performance “was not perfect” and he didn’t secure the knockout he wanted, but he expressed ambition to become a Zuffa champion and floated a potential future clash with Mark Magsayo. The win keeps the 28-year-old Las Vegas native undefeated and firmly in the lightweight contender conversation (previously ranked highly at 130 lbs by major bodies).

Garcia’s second career loss highlighted the challenges of facing a disciplined boxer who could neutralize his power and southpaw stance.

Undercard Results

The supporting bouts provided strong action, including a former world champion’s statement, a shocking upset, and an early knockout candidate:

• Lightweight Co-Main: Mark Magsayo def. Feargal McCrory via TKO (corner stoppage), Round 5 at 0:21. The former WBC featherweight champion (now 30-2, 19 KOs) looked rejuvenated at 135 lbs, rocking McCrory early with right hands and breaking him down with pressure and body work. McCrory’s corner wisely halted the fight after he absorbed heavy punishment in round 4. Magsayo declared lightweight his new home and positioned himself for title contention. 

• Featherweight: Azat Hovhannisyan def. Eduardo Baez via majority decision (95-95, 96-94, 97-93). The Armenian veteran (now 23-6, 17 KOs) overcame an apparent arm injury after round 1, rallying with effective right-hand counters in a competitive, action-filled scrap. Baez landed more volume overall, making the decision controversial in some observers’ eyes.

• Featherweight: Alexis De La Cerda def. Ervin Fuller III via KO, Round 3 at 2:33. In a clash of undefeated prospects, De La Cerda (9-0, 5 KOs) baited Fuller into range and dropped him face-first with a short right hook—one of the night’s most impressive finishes and an early highlight-reel knockout for Zuffa Boxing.

• Lightweight (8 rounds): Tony Hirsch Jr. def. Robert Meriwether III via majority decision (76-76, 76-75 or 77-75, 78-74). This produced the card’s biggest upset: Hirsch (now 8-0-2) used consistent boxing, body shots, and pace to hand previously standout prospect Meriwether (10-1) his first professional loss.

• Welterweight: Jorge Maravillo def. Elias Diaz via TKO, Round 5 at 2:46. Maravillo (12-0-1, 9 KOs) rallied from a slow start, rocking Diaz with a right hand and overwhelming him for the stoppage. Commentator Andre Ward noted, “It ain’t how you start. It’s how you finish.”

• Featherweight (8 rounds opener): Troy Nash def. Bryan Rodriguez via majority decision (76-76, 79-73, 80-72). Nash (7-0-1) controlled range with hand speed and counters against the aggressive Rodriguez in his first eight-rounder.