Xander Zayas Is The Heir To The P.R. Throne

Zayas is making his 2024 debut with this fight against Teixeira while riding a huge momentum wave, stemming from the three fights he had last year. Zayas wasn’t shy about expressing his thoughts on the experience gained from the three fights by saying he “had a great year.” Starting 2023 with a unanimous decision over Ronald Cruz in June, stopping Roberto Valenzuela Jr in September, and finishing the year with a fifth-round knockout over Jorge Fortea, made for Zayas’ best year yet. “I feel like I stepped up and looked good every time,” said Zayas.

The Truth About Not Fighting In February

During the post-fight, in-ring, interview in December, Zayas said he would return in February to fight Teixeira in NYC. Fans were excited to hear this, but on January 5, ESPN’s Mike Coppinger posted on X, “The Xander Zayas-Patrick Teixeira junior middleweight bout has been postponed and is now expected to take place in June, sources told ESPN.” Rumors began to swirl that Zayas had suffered an injury, but no one could comment on the situation, leaving the fans’ imaginations to run wild.

Zayas was asked about the postponement, whether there was an injury or some other reason that he did not fight in February.

“Who said I had an injury?” asked Zayas. “I’ve never suffered any injury. I can guarantee you that. Something that did happen after Christmas: we had a meeting with the company (Top Rank), and they told me they wanted me to do the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend and me as the main event. They weren’t going to be able to do the Subriel Matias vs Teofimo Lopez fight that they were thinking about, so they wanted to put me in there against a former world champion, Patrick Teixeira. That’s what it came down to. Definitely no injury. I’m ready. I’ve been ready.”

So, the plan all along was to get Zayas that main event slot in one of the most important weekends in NYC for those within the Puerto Rican community. Seeing how Zayas has been built up for this moment, it’s hard to ignore that he’s only 21, and it could be overwhelming for someone his age. In previous interviews, Zayas has stated that he doesn’t feel the pressure at all. Still, there is always a curiosity about whether he feels deprived of his young adulthood, considering he has worked hard to get here and not been able to do some of the other things someone his age may enjoy doing.

Without hesitation, Zayas told FightsATW, “At 16, that was a decision I made. No one pushed me to go pro. I knew the sacrifices that I had to make, and it never crossed my mind (potentially being deprived of young adulthood). This is what I want to do and what I was destined to do. Every step that I have taken has been with a purpose, so I have no regrets at all.”

Now Zayas headlines the PR Day parade weekend this year and promises to show “a different Xander.” That “Different Xander” he is describing is the one Zayas says shows everyone that he is ready for the big names at 154. 

A Man of The People

Part of that takeover requires the Puerto Rican community’s buy-in from both the island and the tri-state area. Zayas has been doing some great things within the Puerto Rican community, whether it’s handing out school supplies to kids in PR or just connecting with the fans on the street everywhere he goes.

“To be honest, I don’t know (what it is), but I’m grateful for that (reaction of the Puerto Rican community to him). It’s amazing to see the love and people wanting to take pictures and meet me. What it comes down to is that when people come up to me, I treat them like a regular person. I don’t try to be too much or treat them any less, because they are human, just like me. We all have our own struggles and things we go through, so at the end of the day, we are all humans.”

Zayas continued, “I have created so many opportunities for myself that I can do those types of things (giving back to the community). Fundacion Rimas have opened their doors to me to help the community in different ways. Every time I have the opportunity to do it, I’ll take advantage of it. I know what it means to not only the people of Puerto Rico but also the kids.”

On June 8, Zayas faces Teixeira, and he knows that Teixeira will bring that tough, former world champion experience to fight night. Zayas isn’t intimidated at all, and some of that mature confidence oozed when he was asked about his opponent. “At the end of the day, it’s my time. I’m not trying to throw shade, but at this time, I just feel like I’m better than him.”

While Zayas’ attitude gives off every reason you should tune into his fight on ESPN, he still wanted to give fight fans even more of a reason, especially those within the PR community. “We are going to put on a show. “Un Verano En Nueva York” (Famous hit salsa song by El Gran Combo of Puerto Rico). We are going to have some fun and celebrate Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend with a victory on Saturday and then as a family on Sunday like the Puerto Rican community that we are.”

The Xander Zayas train is at full speed ahead, and the only question that remains is whether the moment is too big for him or if Teixeira will be too much, too soon. All questions will be answered on June 8, but if Zayas is successful, watch out, because the next stop will be filling the big room at Madison Square Garden for a title fight.