Xander Zayas records upset win over Teixeira, looks to fight Erickson Lubin and Josh Kelly

RESULT: Xander Zayas scored a knockout win against former 154lbs world champion Patrick Teixeira at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. The Puerto Rican carnival atmosphere played a role in ensuring that Zayas’ dream of highlighting the area was a memorable one. And the dominance of the 21-year-old player in this fight was seen on three cards (100-90 twice, 99-91).

IMPORTANT TIMES: The undefeated super-welterweight landed a first-round knockout to show his intentions. In the fifth, Zayas showed that he is willing to hit anything open to him by slapping the shoulders of his Brazilian opponent in an attempt to break him. Buoyed by the support of the team on the eve of the Puerto Rican day’s showdown, Zayas ran away and, in the eighth, fired a flurry of shots that Texieira did well to survive the final six minutes.

RECORDS: Zayas extended his undefeated record to 19-0 (12 KOs), while Teixeira’s fifth loss brings him to 34-5 (25 KOs).

TALKING POINTS: Amazing Puerto Rican fans have been clamoring for another national hero to join their rich boxing history. It’s still early days for Zayas, but if he can navigate the deep 154lb division and emerge as a world champion, he could lead the way with Subriel Matias and possibly Edgar Berlanga by his side.

QUOTABLE: Afterwards, Zayas paid tribute to his rival who recently lost his family. “A few weeks ago we found out that Patrick’s mother passed away and as a hero he was here and doing a show so I want to applaud Patrick Teixeira.”

“He was tough. “Since he is a veteran, he could live there,” said Zayas. “I feel like it was a difficult test but I passed with flying colours.

“It’s like everyone at Top Rank tells me, ‘Before you go 12 you have to go 10.’ I did it today and I won against the former world champion. Those were the rounds I needed.”

NEXT: Zayas is likely to retain his top position in the WBO and possibly move up a spot. Speaking to ESPN, he asked for a fight with fellow WBO top five contenders Erickson Lubin (4) and Josh Kelly (3) as well as new stablemate and friend Vito Mielnicki Jr. A move up in class may be next for the Florida–based Puerto Rican, who is slowly but surely entering the bottom of the super-welterweight division.