Xander Zayas: From high school to pro boxing stardom

Xander Zayas is only 17 years old and a high school senior, but he makes his professional boxing debut on the undercard of Stevenson vs. Gonzalez.

Most high school seniors have simple worries like who to ask to the homecoming dance and college applications, but Xander Zayas is getting ready to take on the boxing world at the young age of 17.

On the undercard of Shakur Stevenson vs. Joet Gonzalez on Saturday, Oct. 26, on ESPN+, Zayas make his professional boxing debut against 31-year-old Genesis Wynn (1-0). Due to his youth, Zayas is in uncharted territory, but his maturity is light-years beyond that of your average teenager.

Zayas is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and took up boxing because he was being bullied as a young child.

While talking to Sporting News in March, Zayas said, “Every time I was going to play, kids would hit me, call me names, and I didn’t want to go outside anymore. I didn’t want to go out and play with my friends. My mom decided to put me in boxing because I was being bullied by other kids.”

It turns out that Zayas was a natural boxer. He dominated during his youth, winning numerous amateur titles. Puerto Rico is known for its rich boxing history, and Zayas grew up with a strong knowledge of Puerto Rico’s legacy in the sport.

“There’s a rich heritage of boxing in Puerto Rico,” Zayas told FanSided. “I used to watch videos of Tito Trinidad, Hector Macho Camacho, Wilfredo Benitez, all those great fighters that made Puerto Rico really proud and happy. Overall, Miguel Cotto was the main one because I grew up watching him.”

At the age of 11, Zayas’ family decided to move to the United States to achieve the American dream, with Zayas’ boxing talent being the accelerant in that decision.

“I moved from Puerto Rico to Florida when I was 11,” said Zayas. “We were looking for a better future, better educations, better opportunities.”

The Zayas family made their new home in Sunrise, Florida. They ended up connecting with boxing trainer Javiel Centeno at Sweatbox Boxing & Fitness. It turns out that the combination of Centeno and Zayas was a match made in heaven.

“We went to Coach Javiel Centeno,” said Zayas. “Since then, I’ve been working with Coach Javiel Centeno going to national after national winning everything that comes along the way.”

Centeno did a complete overhaul of Zayas’ boxing style. He reviewed every part of his game and retouched all expects of his technique until it was perfected.

“Javiel’s got a good technical style,” complemented Zayas. “He liked my style already, but it was more perfecting that style with more technical stuff. It was very composed. He sat down and worked on every punch, every combination, every footwork, the head movement. We broke everything down and put it back together like a lego.”

Centeno’s reconstruction paid immediate dividends. Under Centeno’s watch, Zayas ultimately compiled an amateur record of 122-14 and was a National Champion in 2017 and 2018. Zayas was on the fast track to the Olympic games, but his birthday complicated matters.

His birthday fell 45 days short of being eligible for the 2020 Olympics. Rather than wait for the 2024 games, he elected to go professional. Ironically, Zayas wasn’t old enough to compete as an amateur in the Olympics, but he’s able to box as a professional at 17 years old. Its further proof that we live in a mixed-up, nonsensical world at times.

Regardless, Zayas signed a professional contract with Top Rank at 16 years old in March of 2019. He’s only a little a month past his 17th birthday, and he’s about to have his first professional bout against an opponent who is 14 years older. He doesn’t fear fighting a grown man. Zayas has been doing that for some time.

“It’s nothing weird,” said Zayas. “I’ve been doing it since I was 15, sparring older guys and bigger guys, so I don’t find it weird.”

Zayas regularly spars seasoned veterans such as Amir Imam regularly. Even though he’s young, Zayas is a large welterweight at 5-foot-10. His body and physical skills are as mature as his mind.

Zayas attended Plantation High School but is currently homeschooled to prepare for the rigors of professional boxing. Some people might find it odd or even unethical that Zayas is boxing as a professional, but it has been his dream since he was 10 years old.

“I decided that when I was 10 years old when I won my third National in Puerto Rico,” declared Zayas. “I think it got to the point where I said to myself, this is what I want to do. I’ve got the talent. I’ve got the will. I’ve got the heart, and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Zayas gets the chance to live out his dream on Saturday, Oct. 26, on ESPN+. You can watch him take his first step towards his ultimate goal of becoming a world title starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. He’s got lofty goals but the potential to realize them. Zayas is eager to show the world what he can do.

“I want to win as many titles in as many divisions as I can.

“I hope to show the world my boxing skill, my strength, and how strong I can be in the ring. ”