Vinny's Corner

Zuffa Boxing returns to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas this Sunday, April 5, 2026, for its fifth numbered event. Headlined by a 10-round lightweight clash between undefeated Las Vegas native Andres “Savage” Cortes and hard-hitting Dominican contender Eridson Garcia, Zuffa Boxing 05 promises high-level action from top to bottom.

Zuffa Boxing, the boxing promotion backed by UFC leadership and featuring streamlined eight-division rules and a new championship belt, continues to deliver rising talents and proven veterans in an intimate APEX setting. This Easter Sunday card is no exception, stacked with undefeated prospects, former titleholders, and knockout artists.

Breaking Down the Fighters

Andres Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs)

• Age: 28
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height/Reach: 5’7″ / 65″
• Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada (fighting in front of his hometown crowd

Formerly with Top Rank, Cortes has steadily climbed the super featherweight ranks and is currently ranked #5 WBC and #4 WBO at 130 lbs. He’s making his Zuffa Boxing debut at 135 lbs after a strong 2025 campaign. Cortes is a slick, high-volume boxer with excellent footwork, defensive awareness, and the ability to mix in explosive power. He’s stopped 13 opponents and has never been seriously tested in the later rounds against top competition. His technical edge and ring IQ make him a nightmare for most at this level.

Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs)

• Age: 31
• Stance: Southpaw
• Height/Reach: 5’9″ / 71″
• Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (based in Houston, Texas)

Garcia brings legitimate power (nearly 61% KO rate) and momentum on a six-fight win streak. His only loss came early in his career, and he’s looked increasingly dangerous in recent outings, including an impressive performance in Riyadh. The southpaw stance gives him a natural reach advantage (nearly seven inches), and his aggressive, come-forward style is tailor-made to create bad blood and chaos. He’s hungry, physically strong, and sees this as a career-defining opportunity.

Fight Analysis

This is a classic technician-vs-banger matchup with added personal stakes—promoters have hyped “bad blood” between the camps, which should make for an intense, fan-friendly scrap from the opening bell. Cortes will look to use his superior footwork and boxing skills to control distance, pot-shot from range, and pile up points while avoiding Garcia’s heavy left hand. Garcia’s path to victory lies in closing the distance, using his reach to land heavy shots early, and wearing Cortes down over the championship rounds.

Cortes enters as a slight betting favorite (around -150), but Garcia’s power and southpaw awkwardness make this far from a lock. The fight could turn into a war if Cortes can’t keep it at range. Expect Cortes to pull away late if he survives the early pressure, but one clean shot from Garcia could flip the script. This is easily the most intriguing lightweight prospect clash Zuffa has booked to date.

Vinny’s Corner Official Pick

Andres Cortes def. Eridson Garcia by unanimous decision (late rounds dominance seals it for the hometown favorite).

Full Fight Card Times and Where To Watch Zuffa Boxing 05

Main Card (10-round bouts, Paramount+ at 9:00 PM ET)

• Lightweight Main Event: Andres Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs) vs. Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs)
• Lightweight Co-Main Event: Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs) vs. Feargal “Fearless” McCrory (17-1, 9 KOs)
• Featherweight: Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (22-6, 17 KOs) vs. Eduardo “Fantastico” Baez (25-7-2, 10 KOs)

Prelims (Paramount+ at 6:00 PM ET)

• Featherweight (8 rounds): Alexis De La Cerda (8-0, 4 KOs) vs. Ervin Fuller III (12-0, 6 KOs)
• Lightweight (8 rounds): Robert “King” Meriwether III (10-0, 4 KOs) vs. Tony “The Phantom” Hirsch Jr. (6-0-2, ~4 KOs)
• Welterweight (8 rounds): Jorge Maravillo (11-0-1, 8 KOs) vs. Elias “Ingles” Diaz (15-3, 8 KOs)
• Featherweight (8 rounds): Troy “The Bank” Nash (6-0-1, 1 KO) vs. Bryan “Pretty Boy” Rodriguez (8-1, 1 KO)3536

Fight day is here! Will Cortes remain undefeated in front of his hometown fans, or can Garcia pull off the upset? Tune in Sunday night on Paramount+ and find out.

By Vincent

Photos Courtesy of Zuffa Boxing