To listen to Xander Zayas, you could be forgiven for thinking he’s had twice as many professional games and half the pressure on his shoulders. At the age of 21, his maturity belies his inexperience, and an ignorant glee worries him about what could happen to him if he lives up to the expectations of those around him. and he, as expected, many of them are quick to call him “Miguel Cotto is behind. .”
In fact, with the support of the entire Puerto Rican nation, and the strength of Top Rank’s industry, it is fair to say that Zayas has what it takes to truly succeed as a professional. However, with that power comes great responsibility, not to mention a light that shines brighter than most.
“No matter what you do in life, you’re always going to be under pressure,” Zayas told Boxing News on Thursday (April 18). ——In this situation, as a young boxer, I still feel pressured. I have the support of the whole country, so the pressure is on. I just need to stay focused, listen to my team and my family, and enjoy what I do;
——To be honest, I didn’t feel any pressure. I know I’m on the right path, the right way. The whole team knew the goal and knew what we wanted. We are achieving this modest goal. Next up is my first former champion, Patrick Teixeira. I don’t think about “behind” and “behind.” I just need to be. I want to be happy in what I do, have fun doing what I do, and make my family and team proud. I hope that I can also be proud of all the people who respect me and love me as a professional boxer.
Seeking Perfection: Zayas aims to stop Teixeira inside six rounds – Wrestle Maniac Read the Full Article Here: https://t.co/oEsQ9XSWZM pic.twitter.com/R4ERBP2nXI
— Wrestle Maniac (@Makemoneyhere23) April 19, 2024
His next fight is scheduled for June 8 against Teixeira, the former WBO super welterweight champion who has won his last three despite a decline in his game in recent years. That will certainly challenge Zayas in his 19th professional fight, but more than that, the fight against Teixeira is a 10-round header that means Zayas is being pushed to the front of the stage.
“In a way (it’s different from previous matches),” said Zayas, 18-0 (12). – You always dream about your first big event. As a professional boxer, there are three important things in your life: your first job; your first big party; and hearing, “Something new…” I think these are the moments you never forget. But, on the other hand, I just try to think of it as another fight to stay focused. There is also a store. Another touch. Another opponent is ahead of me. I just have to go and do it like before.
Zayas is doing a great job as a professional so far, addressing the issues surrounding him. He was the winner of 18 professional fights and almost never lost a round, let alone a dance. He was strong from the start, beating Jorge Fortea (KO 5), Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (TKO 5) and Ronald Cruz (UD) in his last 8), but he knows that Teixeira, 34-4 (25), will give him a different test in June. That’s the hard part. Absolutely. “There’s no question this is progress,” Zayas said. – From the looks of it, he is a former world champion, he has defeated several world champions. I remember his fight against Carlos Adames (who won the WBO title in 2019), my second fight as a professional; we fought together at the Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas. We took photos with others.
– I think this is the right thing to do at the right time. This is my 19th fight and he is ranked 7th in the WBO. This is the best fight for me.
Like any young warrior, Zayas can be fooled by his own delusions, diverting his attention or focusing on next year’s plans rather than what’s around the corner. However, Zayas is aware of the possibility that it might not fall into a trap that many other high-profile projects have fallen into. Maybe that’s why he kept calm and respected his opponents to focus on them and what they could do for everyone and him;
“I study sometimes, but I also let my coaches and dads set the game plan,” he explained. – but if I’m bored at home, I say, well, I’ll watch some of Patrick’s videos and see what I can find. So I told my teacher about it. But most of the time, my coaches and dads are the ones who plan the game and decide what to do with each opponent.
What Zayas found in his research was, as always, both convincing and disturbing.
“Man, he hits a lot,” he said of Teixeira. – He bowls a lot of combos and curveballs. He has long arms and he is a tall warrior. Another thing I’m concerned about is the bias towards leftists. I don’t want a hit on my head or a hit on my face. But if I’m worried about that, I think I’m on the wrong foot.
——However, I ended up with stronger hands, more energy, more anger, and a higher IQ. I think my period starts on June 8th and I will give it a try.
– This is a great fight for me, I don’t think this fight will go above six points. If it wasn’t a real fight, I would win by one decision.
For boxers, perfection is the goal when preparing for a fight, especially at this level. However, for Xander Zayas, understanding how difficult it is to achieve perfection also shows his maturity and general awareness. In other words, even though he strives to be the best, he is also smart enough to know that the most important thing in this phase, as in all phases of a boxer’s career, is to win.
