Since flattening ex-titlist Patrick Teixeira last June, Xander Zayas has believed a world-title belt should already be cinched around his waist. The 22-year-old Puerto Rican prodigy will finally get his chance tonight at Madison Square Garden’s Theater, where he meets Mexico’s upset-minded Jorge Garcia Perez for the vacant WBO super-welterweight crown.
Zayas admits his patience wore thin after dominating Teixeira in front of a raucous Boricua crowd on Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. “I thought it was time right after Teixeira,” he says. Trainer Javiel Centeno, manager Peter Kahn and Top Rank boss Bob Arum urged him to trust the process. Two more tests followed: a shut-out of high-volume Damian Sosa and a ninth-round stoppage of unbeaten WBO-ranked Slawa Spomer in February, victories that sealed his No. 1 contender status.
Watch all of Xander Zayas' knockouts: Watch
The WBO initially ordered Zayas to face two-belt champion Sebastian Fundora. Zayas was eager - “I really wanted to take both titles off Fundora,” he says - but Fundora vacated the WBO strap to pursue a Tim Tszyu rematch. Enter Garcia, whose split-decision shock over formerly unbeaten Charles Conwell in April vaulted him into tonight’s spotlight. “Conwell fought the wrong fight,” Zayas observes, yet gives Garcia his due: “You can’t take that achievement away from him.”
At just 22, Zayas knows time is on his side, but he’s determined to seize this first shot. “Everything my team has done led me to this moment,” he says. “Fight my fight, win, and become champion - my time is now.”
Image Credit: Sky Sports