THE RESULT: Xander Zayas achieved a shut-out victory over former 154lbs world champion Patrick Teixeira at the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York. The Puerto Rican carnival atmosphere added to the memorable experience of Zayas headlining the venue. The 21-year-old’s dominance in the fight was evident in the judges’ scorecards (100-90 twice, 99-91).
KEY MOMENTS: The undefeated super-welterweight made his intentions clear in the opening round with a powerful uppercut. In the fifth round, Zayas demonstrated his commitment by relentlessly targeting his opponent’s shoulders to break him down. Fueled by the support of the Puerto Rican fans, Zayas continued to chip away and unleashed a barrage of shots in the eighth round, which Teixeira managed to withstand for the remainder of the fight.
RECORDS: Zayas extended his unbeaten record to 19-0 (12 KOs), while Teixeira’s record now stands at 34-5 (25 KOs) after his fifth defeat.
TALKING POINTS: The passionate Puerto Rican fanbase has been eagerly awaiting a new national boxing hero to continue their rich legacy. While it is still early in Zayas’s career, if he can navigate the competitive 154lb division and become a world champion, he has the potential to lead alongside Subriel Matias and possibly Edgar Berlanga.
QUOTABLE: In his post-fight tribute, Zayas honored Teixeira, who recently experienced a family loss. “A couple weeks ago we learned that Patrick’s mother passed away, and despite that, he showed up like a warrior and put on a show. I want to applaud Patrick Teixeira for his toughness.” Zayas acknowledged Teixeira’s experience and resilience, stating, “He was tough. As a veteran, he knew how to survive in the ring. I faced a tough test, but I passed it with flying colors.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Zayas is expected to maintain his top-five ranking with the WBO and potentially move up a spot. He expressed interest in facing fellow top-five WBO contenders Erickson Lubin (4) and Josh Kelly (3), as well as his new teammate Vito Mielnicki Jr. A step up in competition could be on the horizon for the Florida-based Puerto Rican, as he continues to progress in the super-welterweight division.