boxing
Xander Zayas expected it to happen, but didn't expect it to happen so soon.
The 21-year-old super welterweight phenom, who became the youngest boxer ever to sign with Top Rank at age 16, has spent very little time as one of boxing's most promising prospects.
He's already a main event attraction. His name is already in the advertising for the card. His face is already on all the fight posters.
Already, his matches are selling tickets and drawing fans.
Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs) will face Patrick Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) in the main event of Top Rank's June 8 fight at the Madison Square Garden Theater (11 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised in Florida, Zayas always dreamed of being the face of the biggest fight during the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend.
“I feel like this is a big milestone,” Zayas told The Post. “There are four milestones in boxing that I want to achieve or reach. Number one, a contract, number two, a pro debut, number three, a main event and number four, a world championship. That one's coming up. After those four, there are obviously more goals, but these are the ones that are really important because they only happen once. … Miguel Cotto has done it for years. He's my favorite fighter and someone I look up to in the boxing world. And now I have the opportunity to headline Madison Square Garden during the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. This is something you only dream about as a kid and never thought it would happen this early in your life or your career.”
“But it's here and we have to take advantage of it. We have to show up and demonstrate it.”
Although Zayas didn't grow up in New York City, he has developed strong ties to the vibrant Puerto Rican community there.
And Zayas was on the field at Citi Field before Wednesday's Mets-Dodgers game, hanging out with local Puerto Rican stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Diaz.
He knows well how much the city's Puerto Rican community reveres its champion fighters, especially their performances this weekend.
Cotto, Zayas' idol, dominated weekends for much of his career.
But since then, few have been able to inherit that torch.
However, there aren't many people with Zayas' talents.
“It's a big responsibility for me,” Zayas said. “Representing Puerto Rico and representing all the people who have a heart for Puerto Rico is something I've always wanted to do. It's really special for me and it's something I've always wanted to do. I've had this opportunity since day one, and I intend to continue to represent them and show them love just like they've shown me love and represented me.”
Like his local community, Zayas has made Madison Square Garden his second home.
Saturday's match will mark Zayas' fifth bout at the venue.
“It's the home of boxing,” Zayas said. “I feel like every fighter dreams of fighting here, and of course, to see all the former Puerto Rican legends fighting here and putting on a great show, it's a chance for me to showcase my talent to the boxing world and to Puerto Rico, so it means a lot to me.”
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