By Ricardo Lopez Juarez
09 Jun 2024, 05:16 AM EDT
Headlining the boxing event that traditionally takes place on the weekend of the National Puerto Rican Parade in New York in the historic Madison Square Garden building is no small feat. Xander Zayas had his turn this Saturday and responded with a good performance.
Xander Zayas improved to 19-0 as a professional after completely dominating Brazilian Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round bout and receiving a comfortable unanimous decision from the judges, who scored the fight 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91.
Although the fight at the Hulu Theater was not anticipated to be especially difficult for Zayas, it does symbolically mark the beginning of his “coming of age” as a boxer as, at 21 years old, he was the man who headlined the event broadcast nationally by ESPN.
The same thing happened in other times with legendary boxers like Félix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, and more recently with Edgar Berlanga.
The happiest Puerto Rican Parade for Xander Zayas
And with his 19th win in the bag, the talented Puerto Rican Zayas, previously chosen to receive the “Sports Star” award of the Parade, will be presented this Sunday with a big smile and his WBC and WBO North American champion belts in the 67th edition. of the popular event.
“Thank you for the love, thank you for the support. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the Puerto Rican Parade,” Zayas said when interviewed in the ring by the ESPN reporter.
The 13th knockout would have been perfect to round off the night for Zayas, who punished Teixeira (34-5) first with body blows and in the final rounds with an attack to the head. His combinations were accurate against a very inferior opponent who managed to survive. There was no KO, but the experience is valuable. The San Juan native had never fought 10 rounds.
“I graduated,” says Xander Zayas after his first time in 10 rounds
“Before you go to 12 (rounds), you go to 10. I did it today. I graduated,” said a satisfied Zayas. “Those were rounds I needed. I’m ready for whatever they throw at me now. I have to work on that angle against a lefty, going to the outside, work the body. I feel like my distance was key today.”
The function featured some personalities such as the legendary Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, the Japanese super world champion Naoya Inoue and the actress Rosie Pérez.
Xander Zayas is still a prospect, with quite a bit of professional experience, but a prospect nonetheless. Much more complicated contests are on his way, but he has taken another step.
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