He was the youngest boxer ever signed by Top Rank at age 16. Now 19 year old Xander Zayas remains undefeated in 12 bouts, 9 by KO. There is something about him that reminds me of young Fernando Vargas. I don't know, maybe the cocky face?
REED's Heard the Name, Obviously, But Never WATCHED a Full Xander Zayas Fight Until the One You Posted... There's a SURFACE Level Similarity to Fernando Vargas for Sure; Not in the FACE, but from the Neck Down, Similar Bodytypes...Both BIG (For the Weight), BROAD SHOULDERED, AGGRESSIVE, ATTACKING, IMPOSING Fighters...Both Pick and Place Their Punches Well... But Zayas Seems QUICKER to the Punch Than Vargas, While Maybe Lacking Some of 'Nando's THUD...Or Maybe the Italian in the Video Just Had an EPIC Ass Chin, Cause Zayas Tee'ed Off; Hitting Him w/Everything BUT a Golf Club... Impressive, Abundantly TALENTED Specimen, But He's JUST 19...There Should Be Absolutely NO RUSH Here... Per BoxRec, Zayas had 4 Bouts in 2019, 2 in 2020 and 6 in 2021...He Needs ANOTHER 5-6 Bout Year in 2022 (vs. Increasingly Tougher Opposition), Before ENTERTAINING Gate Keeper Types...Then Do THAT All of 2023... To MAXIMIZE This Kid's Potential, Keep Him On High Profile Undercards, PPV or Otherwise, Whilst Having Him ACTIVELY Sparring Elite Level Guys...If He Acquits Himself Well, He Could/Should Be a Fucking MONSTER 2 Years from Now (21 Years Old)... REED
He is actively sparring lots of type fighters. He's posted himself in the gym with Crawford, Prograis, Porter, and one of the Charlo's.
Good to Hear… Boxing is a MARATHON, Not a Sprint…The Wilfred Benitez’s and Mike Tyson’s of the Fistic World are RARE…Exceptions to the Rule… Andre Ward WOULDN’T Have Been What He Was if Moved Tooooo EARLY…One Could Argue the Aforementioned Fernando Vargas was Moved Tooooo EARLY… Zayas Has “the Goods” as They Say, But Unless He’s DESTROYING Elite Level Guys in Sparring, There’s NO Need to Rush Him…TIMING Is Everything… REED
If Zayas really was the next Tito he would have stopped Teixeira, especially on Puerto Rican Day Parade
Zayas isn't anything dynamic talent wise. Very marketable commodity. If he could actually fight they'd he onto something. As is he can probably make a decent living. Carrington is a more promising fighter although he's 6 years older.
I keep looking for something in Zayas and it’s just not there. The kid just doesn’t have what it takes to be great.
Damn bro if I had said it people may think im hating but coming from you I totally agree. I dont think hes the next Trinidad or even the next Cotto. He's ok but nothing special and he'll never be as good as Vargas.
Oscar just came out and said he wants to match him with Vergil Ortiz. I think Vergil would outclass him and stop him early to mid rounds.
it stands to reason he is facing a southpaw to prepare for stevenson. though Im skeptical if he will ever fight stevenson, he has shown zero interest. perhaps his excellency will make it worth his while.