Xander Zayas envisioned this exact scenario – timeline and all - when he signed with Top Rank more than six years ago.
The unbeaten 22-year-old junior middleweight contender heads into the biggest fight of his career, as he’s set to face Jorge Garcia for the vacant WBO 154lbs title. The moment comes in Zayas’ 22nd pro fight, after going the old-fashioned route – newcomer to prospect, onto contender and now the number one challenger for the belt at stake this weekend.
“This is the exact path I always saw for myself when I first signed with Top Rank and turned pro,” Zayas told BoxingScene. “I always said, I wanted to have at least 20 fights under my belt before my first world title fight.
“This is now fight number 22, and at age 22. I just feel like all the stars are aligning.”
Zayas-Garcia takes place this Saturday atop an ESPN telecast from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event will mark the final Top Rank Boxing on ESPN show, a bittersweet moment for the sport but a fitting graduation for the charismatic Puerto Rican boxer.
Top Rank wasn’t even two years into its original deal when a 16-year-old version of Zayas signed with the promotional powerhouse as well as noted fight manager Peter Kahn in 2019.
The early plan called for Zayas, 21-0 (13 KOs) to develop in the ring and then as a household name, particularly in New York City and his home state of Florida. The Covid pandemic represented a brief hurdle on the marketing front, as his three appearances in Boricua-heavy Kissimmee, Florida were fought under social distancing restrictions.
Zayas’ first taste of an expanded supporting cast came in a December 2021 win over Alessio Mastronunzio. The night marked his first career fight on MSG property in New York City, where he has emerged as a dependable attraction.
Saturday will mark Zayas’ eight career MSG-branded and fourth in a row at The Theater. Among those fights was his most notable victory to date – a ten-round, virtual shutout of former WBO 154lbs titlist Patrick Teixeira last June 8, the night before the annual Puerto Rican Day parade.
It’s as fitting a location as any for his first major title fight, even if not against the originally targeted opponent.
Zayas advanced to the mandatory challenger position for the WBO title previously held by Sebastian Fundora, 23-1-1 (15 KOs).
The matchup was ordered shortly after Fundora knocked out Chordale Booker in the fourth round of their March 22 Prime Video headliner at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Zayas was in attendance and joined Fundora in the ring for a photo-op in the form of a staredown.
Talks never progressed, however, and the fight was sent to a purse bid hearing which was eventually canceled. Fundora vacated his WBO title after Tim Tszyu enforced a rematch clause from their March 2024 meeting, which left him obligated to a second bout.
Not getting an established champion in the ring for his first major title fight is perhaps the only part of his journey that hasn’t gone according to plan.
“I was disappointed in the beginning,” admitted Zayas. “I wanted to face the champion and beat the champion, not just win one but two world titles. It was something I wanted to do if I was given the opportunity. But it didn’t happen that way and I can’t get mad about it. This is business at the end of the day.
“In the end, he was still a unified champion as far as the history books will show and, even though he didn’t fight me, he [fought] another champion. I can’t be mad about it.”
Fundora stopped Tszyu after seven rounds last Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Zayas now has the chance to show just one week later that he belongs in the conversation. The steps he’s taken to get to this point leave him brimming with confidence that a revisited showdown with Fundora is on the other side of his title fight this weekend.
“Maybe down the line, we can still meet and I get that shot at my second world title,” pondered Zayas. “He said in the past he wanted to fight another champion. Hopefully after [Saturday], that other champion is me. We’ll see. If not, then we’ll just continue to win and keep facing the best.
“Hopefully down the line, that fight can still happen.”
For now, Zayas’ most dangerous opponent is the one that will be standing across the ring on Saturday.
Mexico’s Garcia, 33-4 (26 KOs) already pulled off one major upset to arrive at this point. The 28-year-old from Los Mochis outhustled unbeaten Charles Conwell and claimed a split decision in their April 19 clash in Oceanside, California.
The win was Garcia’s eighth in a row, and Zayas is well aware of what he has in front of him.
It doesn’t leave him any less confident of fulfilling his destiny.
“Little by little I’ve been making my mark,” noted Zayas. “I’ve showed the world why I belong in the number-one spot. I’ve earned this opportunity and I’m excited about this.”
