At 19 years old, Xander Zayas has already been dubbed the next big thing to come out of Puerto Rico. In just two years, Zayas has piled up 11 wins with eight knockouts along the way. His success has garnered from boxing commentators like Mark Kriegel along with some of the biggest names in the sport like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. While he has enjoyed the praise he’s received, Zayas has not stopped working hard.
In 2021, Zayas has put together a “Prospect of the Year” campaign that is hard to match. Through 10 months, he fought five times, earning two knockouts along the way. Tonight, he capped off his 12-month run with a primetime fight against Alessio Mastronunzio. Despite his opponent having a record of 9-1, Zayas entered the fight as an overwhelming betting favorite and he delivered.
Zayas proved exactly why he was the betting favorite. From the opening bell, Zayas overwhelmed Mastronunzio with four and five punch combinations. Along the way, he picked up a knock down before the referee stepped in and stopped the fight with less than one minute to in the round.
He’s only 19 years old ?
The future is bright for @XanderZayas. #LomaCommey pic.twitter.com/NEVi0QftL1
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) December 12, 2021
