Similar to many children, Xander Zayas faced circumstances where his decisions and actions were driven by necessity rather than personal choice. At the age of 11, he moved to America with his mother and stepfather, as it was their preferred location to establish their roots. To avoid feeling further displaced and alienated, he quickly learned to speak English within six months. Prior to this, at the tender age of six, he was introduced to boxing as a means of self-defense due to the bullying he endured. Although not his own desire, his mother compelled him to pursue this path. This became the first language, other than his native tongue, that Zayas learned as a child – the language of protecting oneself, fighting back, and adapting to one’s surroundings.
“She just threw me out there to learn at first and, to be honest, I didn’t want to do it,” Zayas, now 21, told Boxing News. “I didn’t want to get hit. I was already getting hit in the street, so why would I want to get hit for fun as well?
However, that’s how it all began, and I distinctly recall being consistently outperformed by a young girl who would overwhelmingly defeat me in sparring matches. It reached a point where I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with myself, compelling me to take action. I made the decision to fight back, and to my surprise, I discovered a deep passion for it.
Zayas’ mastery of boxing was not a coincidence or a natural talent, but rather a result of circumstances that forced him to learn and improve. The catalyst for this was the humiliation he experienced when a girl outperformed him at the gym, where his mother took him in an attempt to alleviate the humiliation he faced outside of it. This experience set off a chain of events that eventually led Zayas, at the age of 11 and living in Sunrise, Florida, to become capable of defending himself in a way he couldn’t before discovering the boxing gym. This newfound ability gave him the confidence he desperately needed when facing the challenges of moving at a young and impressionable age.
“It was incredibly challenging in the beginning,” he expressed, referring to his experience of relocating from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Not only was he unfamiliar with the language, but he also had to navigate through the daunting task of making new friends, enrolling in a different school, and searching for a new boxing gym. However, resilience played a significant role as, at the age of 11, one is remarkably receptive to learning. Consequently, he swiftly absorbed the language and established a few friendships within six to eight months. Consequently, the journey became considerably smoother.”
I didn’t have any other place outside my house where Spanish was spoken. Regardless of where you went, whether it was the supermarket or a restaurant, English was the only language you could communicate in. There was no alternative. In the area where I reside in the United States, there isn’t a large Latin community, and even if there is, they still converse with you in English because they aim to motivate you to improve.
Zayas’ young life and his journey thus far can be characterized by this sentiment. Every challenge he has encountered has compelled him to find a solution, resulting in both practical skills and a wisdom that surpasses his age.
When complimented on his maturity, he expressed, “Having the opportunity to be in the presence of numerous professional fighters since a young age has undoubtedly played a significant role.” He further explained, “From the age of 12, I have engaged in sparring sessions and trained alongside these professionals, allowing me to witness various aspects of the sport. Additionally, my family instilled in me the values of staying grounded and composed. Growing up surrounded by individuals older than me has taught me valuable lessons in self-reliance and effective management. The key is to fulfill your responsibilities and swiftly exit the scene; no further action is required.”
During their match at American Bank Center on September 15, 2023 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Zayas launches an assault on Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Without a doubt, he embodies the characteristics of the archetypal prodigy or young genius. Endowed with not just an uncanny level of maturity and remarkable composure, Zayas is also a diligent learner, both in the realm of boxing and in the larger scope of life. His keen observation skills have allowed him to imitate numerous mannerisms he has encountered along his journey, whether they manifest in his words or inside the boxing ring.
He explained that his interest in boxing really took off around the age of 12 or 13. Prior to that, he would occasionally catch the major fights, but they usually aired too late for him to stay up and watch. However, once he hit around 13 years old, he started to dedicate more time to watching boxing. His favorite fighter of all time is Miguel Cotto, and he also closely followed Andre Ward, Manny Pacquiao, the Klitschko brothers (Vitali and Wladimir), and Vasiliy Lomachenko. He vividly remembers Lomachenko’s remarkable emergence from the Olympics.
During my transition into high school, I had a vague idea, at the age of 13 or 14, that this was the path I wanted to pursue. In my freshman year, a significant moment occurred when my English teacher instructed us to pen down our ultimate life goal and envision where we saw ourselves in five years. I confidently wrote that I aspired to become a professional boxer. However, as part of a playful exercise, we were required to discard our written aspirations. Surprisingly, someone retrieved my discarded paper and returned it to me. Astonishingly, in less than five years, I had achieved my goal and became a professional fighter.
Naturally, every aspiring amateur boxer’s ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympic Games, with hopes of winning a medal. In this regard, Zayas shared the same ambition as his peers. He also longed to proudly carry the title of an Olympian and represent his nation. However, due to a recently implemented age restriction of 19, Zayas regrettably couldn’t fulfill this dream at the 2020 Summer Games.
He expressed his deep disappointment, stating that it was not only a letdown for him personally, but also for any athlete who aspires to represent their country at the Olympics. It is disheartening when one’s dreams are shattered due to a rule or technicality beyond their control.
“I found it relatively easier because it involved an age gap and I was determined not to wait until 2024. If I had waited, I wouldn’t be here speaking with you right now. So, when the chance to turn pro came along, it didn’t feel as difficult for me. I knew I didn’t want to delay until 2024, which is why I seized the opportunity. It made me reflect on all the athletes who had been preparing for the 2020 Games only to be blindsided by the Covid pandemic. They had to start from scratch once again. Undoubtedly, it must have been much more challenging for them compared to my situation.”
Zayas, on the other hand, transformed the letdown of not qualifying for the Olympics into a unique driving force. Instead of attempting another shot at the Olympics, he channeled his energy towards pursuing his lifelong aspiration: turning professional. In 2019, at the remarkable age of 16, Zayas accomplished this goal by becoming the youngest boxer to secure a professional contract with Top Rank, a remarkable feat considering the organization’s 53-year history. However, before committing to this decision, Zayas sought his mother’s approval, ensuring her support was in place.
He explained that the family gathered to discuss the matter, and initially, his mother expressed her concerns. She pointed out that he hadn’t completed school and wasn’t yet a fully grown adult, which meant he would soon be facing fully grown opponents. However, he later approached his mother and expressed his strong desire to pursue his chosen path. He emphasized that this was his passion and the life he wanted to commit himself to. After considering his argument, his mother agreed on one condition – that he complete high school before fully dedicating himself to boxing. Consequently, he enrolled in homeschooling and simultaneously began his professional boxing career. Throughout that same year and semester, he successfully finished high school online while concentrating on his boxing training.
Apart from the knowledge gained, the best part of remaining in high school for Zayas was the ability to maintain his connections with peers his age, keeping him grounded and in touch with his humanity. It also meant that he would witness the joy of his fellow students when they learned about his upcoming boxing journey, which would commence once he reached the age of 17.
He recounted the moment when he was on a field trip and received the news of his professional signing. One of his friends approached him, questioning if the rumors were true about him joining Top Rank. Unaware that the announcement was scheduled for that day, he denied any knowledge of it. However, his friend quickly revealed the story to him, proving the truth of the matter. In that instant, he realized that he had indeed signed with Top Rank. The overwhelming feeling of joy and support surrounded him as everyone, including his high school friends, genuinely celebrated his achievement.
Zayas, with a flawless record of 18 wins and 12 knockouts, is set to make his mark on the boxing world. On June 8, he will headline his first major event at Madison Square Garden in New York. His opponent, former WBO super-welterweight champion Patrick Teixeira, poses the most challenging obstacle of Zayas’ career so far. However, considering the immense buzz surrounding him, being hailed as a symbol of hope for Puerto Rico and even compared to the legendary Miguel Cotto, this fight may not be as premature as it seems. Despite his youth and ongoing learning phase, Zayas has matured in the fighting realm faster than his peers. His voice deepened and he developed a strong physique at an early stage.
Zayas acknowledged that pressure is an inevitable companion in life, regardless of one’s pursuits. Being a young boxer, he believed that the weight of expectations would constantly be upon him, given the immense support he received from his country. However, to tackle this pressure, he emphasized the importance of maintaining focus, heeding the advice of his team and family, and finding joy in every aspect of his journey – be it interviews, workouts, or fights.
“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. 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.”
