Xander Zayas stands to turn out to be the youngest unified world champion within the sport as we speak if he can beat Abass Baraou.
Puerto Rico’s Zayas, the WBO super-welterweight titlist, fights WBA 154lb belt-holder Baraou in San Juan on Saturday evening.
It is going to be the 23-year-old Zayas’ first struggle since profitable his world championship. “I’m in it for the glory!” he informed Sky Sports activities.
“It doesn’t matter about anything else. I’m in it for the glory. I’m in the history books right now and I will continue to be. That’s what I aim for.”
Zayas turned boxing’s youngest reigning world champion when he beat Jorge Garcia Perez at Madison Sq. Backyard in July to choose up the WBO belt. Abdullah Mason, a good youthful American, then overtook him in November when he turned a world light-weight titlist.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights of Zayas’ stoppage win inside 5 rounds over Jorge Fortea
Zayas is taking a threat however is relishing the prospect to cross one other milestone. “Being able to be remembered as a fighter that was always facing the best and I was always looking to make history,” he stated.
“I did that after I turned the youngest world champion, for a slight minute, and now I am doing that going into my first title defence for a unification and, after I win, turning into the youngest unified champion in the meanwhile.
“I just feel like history follows me, or I follow it and it’s just been an amazing ride.”
Baraou although is a formidable opponent. “We know what he brings to the table. A lot of pressure, a lot of volume,” Zayas stated. “It has the best of both worlds, you have a pure boxer that knows how to adjust, that is strong fast, sharp. You have a fighter that knows how to put pressure, throws a lot of volume.”
Preventing in Puerto Rico, in a bout of this magnitude, can be a particular second for Zayas.
“Of course I wanted to fight in the island for a long time now,” he stated. “Now I’m a champion, now I’m bringing the biggest fight at 154lbs to the island in front of my people, in a unification. It’s everything that I’ve dreamed of.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Zayas halted Elias Espadas within the fifth spherical after his second knockdown on the Resorts World Occasions Heart in Las Vegas
He sees himself as a part of a “new wave” of worldwide boxing expertise.
“It’s beautifull to see it. That’s just how boxing and the world is, that’s just life. New generations come in, pushing away the other ones and that’s just that. When my time comes and I’m on the way out, there’s going to be another set of stars,” Zayas mirrored.
“The biggest goal of my life is in front of me. The biggest goal of my whole career was becoming a world champion. Now becoming unified. There’s nothing else.
“So much to show, so much to lose. He is a harmful fighter. I am anticipating the perfect model of him and are available January 31 I’ll present another time why I’m who I say I’m.”
