Junior middleweight Xander Zayas has reached an interesting but not uncommon turning point in his boxing career.
Puerto Rico's Zayas, who has an 18-0 record (12 knockouts) and will face former titleholder Patrick Teixeira in a 10-round bout on Saturday, is no longer a hot prospect, but at just 21 years old and with a record yet to beat even a second-rate opponent, it's hard to call him a favorite just yet.
In reality, the meaning of the words hardly matters. But for a young fighter who has reaped the rewards of success in the ring and accolades outside it, any influence, from adversity to wealth, can distract from the focus and discipline needed to take the next step. In Zayas' case, it's walking through the doors of boxing's mecca this weekend, with his name on a billboard above it, during the Puerto Rican Days Parade.
That can be a lot to grasp for kids who aren't old enough to rent a car yet.
Also watching from afar is Puerto Rican fighting legend Ivan Calderon, a former two-division champion who will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Calderon knows Zayas' story: Born in San Juan, Zayas started boxing at age 6 and when he was 11, his parents immigrated from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of better opportunities and stability.
Calderon knows Zayas' feelings better than most, being a lifelong island resident and a Puerto Rican from the San Juan area who has competed in some big fights at MSG, but who got a late start. Calderon told BoxingScene that he recently spoke with Zayas about his future path, offering him this advice:
“You're doing a good job,” said Calderon, who retired from boxing in 2012. “Now is not the time to be a world champion, it's time to be a world challenger, because you're still growing. You're getting close to that stage, but you're still a kid. At 154 pounds, it's going to be tough for you because they're bigger guys with more experience. The champions right now are tough fighters for me. [him] right now.”
Current junior middleweight belt holder – Sebastian Fundora (26), Israil Madrimov, 29, and Bakram Murtazaliev, 31, are both at least five years older than Zayas and have fought tough guys in the ring. Zayas has the potential to be a better fighter and a star, and Calderon knows it. But as he knows, the only thing harder than getting to the top of the mountain is staying there.
“He's a really good talker and he could be really rich,” Calderon says of Zayas' potential crossover, “and he's really disciplined about what he does, so I just want to see if he's the same guy that I see him being when he gets to the top level and becomes a world champion, OK?”
Calderon didn't mention any names, but boxing fans have seen some big-name fighters' collapses (Ryan Garcia) and lessons learned (Adrien Broner) in recent months. A humble soul who has had to fight in smaller weight classes throughout his career, Calderon expects Zayas to continue to walk the walk and be an example of what boxing can be all about.
“I don't want to see him become world champion, become super rich and change,” Calderon said. [best opponents] Or don't give anyone an interview.”
