Xander Zayas is ready to take the next step

Xander Zayas is getting a little used to this by now. The junior middleweight is 21 going on 41, in boxing years. He possesses wisdom and talent beyond his years, and this year, he wants to show it.

On Saturday night, Zayas (18-0, 12 knockouts) will face former title contender Patrick Teixeira (34-4, 25 KOs) in a 10-round bout at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on ESPN’s Top Rank .

Teixeira is on a three-fight winning streak and will be fighting for his importance. He is the most experienced fighter Zayas has faced.

“He’s trying to get back to the big names in boxing, and I know he’s coming to prove a point,” Zayas said of Teixeira. “He has nothing to lose. I feel like this is a very impressive fight, which will force me to be sharp every second of every round. I have to be patient and break him down, not get in there and kill the crowd’s excitement. I have to be sharp and smart.”

The Zayas slowly grew into rivals.

“I don’t think I have 40 percent of what I want to be and what I know I will be,” he said. “Every fight, I get there. I beat my last few opponents, and they were competitive. I’m loading. I know that if I need to be, it will come at the right time. I don’t turn 22 until September. I have time. I will enter the ring for the first time in 2024, and I hope to enter the ring for the first time three times this year.”

Zayas said the tricky part will be reading Teixeira’s hands. The young fighter admits how smart Teixeira is, and how he will try to coax him into making mistakes.

Teixeira is 33 years old and has had his share of fights. In his last six fights, he is 3-3. He fought just once last year, stopping Carlos Rivero twice.

“He’s a guy who throws a lot of punches, so I have to slow him down and start hitting him in between those combinations,” Zayas said. “My focus is on Teixeira. What comes later I will worry about later. I’m living the dream right now. This is the first time that I have hosted a big event.

“I think right now, I have to work on my defense and put my attack​​​​​​ more, use my angles better. I feel much better than last year. Every time I get better. You can only get information from the ring. The more you fight, the better you get. I have read that. I didn’t understand that before.”

His bright instincts are evident.

“I don’t have to remind myself to throw in the towel, or tell myself that I can defend myself, that comes with experience and making the changes I have,” said Zayas. “I’m a lot smoother than I used to be. My head movement is much better, and that comes with pushing myself and adjusting. I don’t need to think anymore, I know now and I react. Everything is the same. I’m living the dream.”