If you listen to Xander Zayas, you might mistakenly believe that he has twice the pro fighting experience and only half the pressure on his shoulders. Despite being just 21 years old, his maturity surpasses his lack of experience, and he blissfully ignores the consequences that may come knocking on his door if he lives up to the high expectations placed upon him. Many people, eager to label him as the “next Miguel Cotto,” have already deemed him as such.
With the unwavering support of the entire nation of Puerto Rico and the influential backing of Top Rank, Zayas possesses all the necessary elements to embark on a successful professional journey. However, along with this immense power, he must also shoulder a substantial amount of responsibility, amplified by the intense spotlight currently focused on him.
“Pressure will always follow you no matter what you do in life,” Zayas said to Boxing News on Thursday (April 18). “In this case, as a young boxer, I feel like I will always have pressure on me. I have a whole country behind me, so there will always be pressure. I just have to stay focused, listen to my team and my family, and enjoy what I do; every interview, every workout, every fight.
“I don’t feel the pressure, to be honest. I feel like I’m moving in the right way and in the right direction. The whole team knows the goal and knows what we want. Little by little we’re getting there. Next I have my first former champion in Patrick Teixeira. I don’t think about being the ‘Next this’ or the ‘Next that’. I just have to be myself. I want to be happy with what I do, have fun with what I do, and make both my family and my team proud. Hopefully I can make everybody who looks up to me and likes me as a professional fighter proud, too.”
Scheduled for June 8, his upcoming fight will see him face off against Teixeira, a former WBO interim champion in the super-welterweight division. Despite stepping down a level in recent times, Teixeira has emerged victorious in his last three bouts, making him a significant challenge for Zayas in his 19th professional fight. Compounding this challenge is the fact that the bout will be a 10-round headliner, thrusting Zayas even closer to the spotlight.
Zayas, with a record of 18-0 (12), expressed that the upcoming fight feels somewhat different from previous ones. He emphasized that as a professional boxer, there are three significant moments that hold great importance: the pro debut, the first main event, and the exhilarating feeling of being announced as the new champion. These are the moments that remain etched in his memory forever. However, he also mentioned that he tries to maintain a focused mindset by considering it just another fight, another opportunity for victory. Whether it’s a different city or a new opponent, he remains dedicated to delivering an impressive performance, as he always does.
On September 15, 2023, Zayas emerges victorious against Roberto Valenzuela Jr. at American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images).
Up until now, Zayas has been flawless in his professional career, which is a testament to the excitement and anticipation surrounding him. He has emerged victorious in all 18 of his pro fights, rarely losing even a single round and never coming close to facing defeat. Starting off with well-matched opponents, he has recently defeated Jorge Fortea (by knockout in the fifth round), Roberto Valenzuela Jnr (by technical knockout in the fifth round), and Ronald Cruz (by unanimous decision in eight rounds). However, he is aware that his upcoming fight against Teixeira, who holds a record of 34-4 (25), will present a different level of challenge in June. This will be a tougher and more significant test for him.
Zayas expressed, “Without a doubt, this is a significant advancement. Looking at his credentials, he’s a previous world champion and has triumphed over some remarkable opponents. I distinctly recall the time he faced Carlos Adames in 2019 for his WBO title. It was during my early days as a professional boxer, and we coincidentally fought alongside each other at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. We even took a picture together to commemorate the occasion.”
In my opinion, this is the perfect opportunity at the perfect moment. With it being my 19th fight and his WBO ranking at number seven, I believe this is the ideal match for me.
Like any young boxer, Zayas may succumb to the allure of his own success and lose focus on his immediate goals or get caught up in future plans. Nevertheless, he acknowledges this potential pitfall and is determined not to make the same mistakes as other promising prospects who were blindsided. This mindset keeps him grounded and encourages him to value his opponents, understanding their abilities and how they might impact him personally.
“I do study sometimes, but I also let my coach and my dad kind of break down the game plan,” he explained. “But if I’m bored at home, I will think, Okay, let me go and look at some videos of Patrick and see what I can find. Then I will speak to my coach about it. Overall, though, my coach and my dad are usually the ones writing the game plan and working out what we need to do for each opponent.”
Regarding Zayas’ findings from his studies, there is an equal amount of reasons to feel confident and fearful.
“He’s a real punch machine,” he commented about Teixeira. “His combinations and looping shots are relentless. With his long arms and towering height, he poses a significant challenge. The only concern I have is going up against a left-handed fighter. I certainly don’t want any head clashes or facial scars, but I suppose if I’m worried about that, I’ve chosen the wrong sport.”
Ultimately, I will possess faster hands, greater power, increased aggression, and a superior IQ. My belief is that my journey commences on June 8, and I am determined to demonstrate my abilities.
If the fight goes perfectly for me, I anticipate that it will end within six rounds. However, if the fight doesn’t go as smoothly, I am confident that I will still emerge victorious with a unanimous decision.
For a boxer, the ultimate objective is always perfection when they train for a fight, especially at this level. However, in the case of Xander Zayas, his ability to appreciate the challenges of attaining perfection is a testament to his maturity and comprehensive comprehension. In simpler terms, although he undoubtedly strives for perfection, he is also wise enough to acknowledge that the primary focus at this stage, and throughout a boxer’s career, is ultimately to secure victories.
