THE RESULT: Xander Zayas delivered a shut-out win in opposition to former 154lbs world champion Patrick Teixeira on the Madison Sq. Backyard Theatre in New York. A Puerto Rican carnival environment performed its half in making certain Zayas’s dream of headlining the venue was a memorable one. And the 21-year-old’s dominance within the struggle was mirrored on the three scorecards (100-90 twice, 99-91).
KEY MOMENTS: The undefeated super-welterweight landed a thudding uppercut within the opening spherical to sign his intentions. Within the fifth Zayas proved he’s dedicated to hitting no matter is open to him by thumping the shoulders of his Brazilian opponent in a bid to interrupt him down. Cheered on by a partisan help on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade Zayas chipped away and within the eighth threw a bombardment of photographs that Texieira did will to outlive and the ultimate six minutes.
RECORDS: Zayas lengthen his unbeaten report to 19-0 (12 KOs) whereas Teixeira’s fifth defeat takes him to 34-5 (25 KOs).
TALKING POINTS: The fantastic Puerto Rican fanbase have been crying out for one more nationwide hero to hitch their wealthy boxing historical past. It’s nonetheless early days for Zayas but when he can navigate by means of a deep 154lbs division and emerge as a world champion then he could lead on from the entrance with Subriel Matias and perhaps even Edgar Berlanga alongside him.
QUOTABLE: Afterwards Zayas paid tribute to his opponent who current suffered a household bereavement. “A pair weeks in the past we discovered that Patrick’s mom handed away and like a warrior he was right here and placed on a present so I wish to give a spherical of applause to Patrick Teixeira.”
“He was robust. Being a veteran he knew the right way to survive in there,” Zayas stated. “I really feel prefer it was a troublesome take a look at however I handed it with flying colors.
“It’s like all people at High Rank tells me, ‘Earlier than you go 12 you gotta go 10.’ I did it immediately and I graduated in opposition to a former world champion. That was the rounds that I wanted.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Zayas will probably retain his prime 5 rating with the WBO and maybe transfer up a spot. Chatting with ESPN he referred to as for fights in opposition to fellow prime 5 WBO contenders Erickson Lubin (4) and Josh Kelly (3) in addition to his new stablemate and good friend Vito Mielnicki Jr. A step up at school could possibly be subsequent for the Florida-based Puerto Rican who’s slowly however absolutely making his means into the deep finish of the super-welterweight division.
