Xander Zayas: A Rising Star in Boxing
Xander Zayas, a prominent boxer hailing from Puerto Rico, recently enjoyed an extraordinary combination of triumphs, culminating in an eight-day span that many athletes would dream of. It began with Zayas’s victory over Abass Baraou on January 31, where he captivated a crowd of 12,000 in San Juan, successfully unifying the WBA and WBO super welterweight championships.
Following this impressive feat, Zayas wasted no time and flew out to San Francisco to join the renowned artist Bad Bunny for a performance at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, aimed at celebrating Puerto Rican culture.
The Super Bowl Experience
Describing the Super Bowl experience on a recent episode of Uncrowned’s “The Boys in the Back” podcast, Zayas expressed the electric energy that filled the day.
“Everyone was just so pumped, whether it was the dancers, actors, or even Bad Bunny himself. We were all just waiting to take the stage, and you could feel the excitement in the air,”
he shared, reflecting on the uniqueness of the event.
The boxing champion also took the opportunity to connect with various celebrities at the Super Bowl, noting encounters with stars like J Balvin and Ricky Martin, who both acknowledged his boxing status. Zayas remarked on the unexpected recognition he received from these figures, highlighting the surreal moments he experienced.
Building a Profile
Zayas’s collaboration with Bad Bunny, solidified through a marketing agreement with Rimas Sports in September, has proven beneficial for his rising profile. His appearance during the halftime show, which attracted an impressive 128.2 million viewers, likely contributed to an increase in his fanbase.
As the youngest male world champion in the sport’s history, Zayas continues to excel in the ring, with his latest fight projections hinting at gate earnings exceeding $1 million — a sign of strong local support. Despite his accomplishments, Zayas’s title unification match against Baraou faced challenges, such as limited exposure due to Top Rank’s recent broadcast difficulties with ESPN, and competition for attention from another major heavyweight fight that occurred simultaneously.
Future Ambitions
Looking ahead, Zayas harbors ambitions to secure additional championships, specifically targeting the remaining super welterweight titles. WBC champion Sebastian Fundora is set to face Keith Thurman soon, but Zayas’s immediate focus is on newly crowned IBF champion Josh Kelly, who dethroned Bakhram Murtazaliev coincidentally just hours before Zayas’s own title defense.
“I’ve made it clear that I want the fight with Josh Kelly next,”
Zayas declared. He noted that negotiations are already underway between Top Rank and Matchroom, Kelly’s promoter, to arrange a showdown this summer. Zayas envisions a neutral venue in the United States for their matchup, as he believes it would best serve both his Puerto Rican heritage and Kelly’s British roots.
Kelly has expressed interest in hosting their fight at Stadium of Light, the home ground of his football club, following his victory. Meanwhile, conversations to organize a major event have commenced, with interest in a potential matchup against Conor Benn also on Kelly’s radar, although Benn is currently exploring welterweight title options.
For now, Zayas’s goal remains clear: to gradually build toward becoming an undisputed champion in his weight class, with the next step being a planned encounter with Kelly.
