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Xander Zayas: "I’m More Than Ready
To Deliver Another Great Show"
Junior middleweight phenom Xander Zayas is gearing up for
his first scheduled 10-rounder.
Zayas will return against Mexico’s Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in
the co-feature to the IBF featherweight world title showdown
between reigning champion Luis Alberto “El Venado” Lopez and
Joet Gonzalez on Friday, September 15, at American Bank
Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Lopez-Gonzalez, Zayas-Valenzuela, and the return of
lightweight sensation Emiliano Fernando Vargas will be
broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m.
ET/7 p.m. PT.
Zayas (16-0, 10 KOs) is Puerto Rico’s latest rising
superstar. He signed with Top Rank at 16 and has maintained
a flawless record. Zayas had an impressive 2022 in which he
scored eight-round decision wins over Quincy LaVallais and
Alexis Salazar, along with a fifth-round TKO against Elias
Espadas. In June, he fought for the first time during Puerto
Rican Day Parade weekend, defeating Ronald Cruz via
eight-round unanimous decision at The Theater at Madison
Square Garden. Valenzuela (21-4, 20 KOs) is a six-year pro
who has given stiff tests to Alexis Rocha, Souleymane
Cissokho and Bakhram Murtazaliev. The 24-year-old Mexican is
coming off a third-round TKO victory against Daniel Vega in
April.
Following a recent training session in Miami, this is what
Zayas had to say:
"As always, I am giving everything in my preparation for
this important step in my career on September 15 in Corpus
Christi, Texas. I feel great and am prepared to put on a
show on such an important date for the Mexican fans, and
even more so when it is one of my first battles between
Puerto Rico and Mexico. I'm ready for the challenge!"
"I'm excited and focused on getting the job done. It's been
eight weeks of solid work throughout training camp. I know
I'm going to be ready for a big fight, as I've been sparring
alongside the experienced Mexican fighter Juan Macias
Montiel, who has faced the big names in the middleweight
division. I am sure his style and experience have brought
out the best in me, and you will see that on September 15. I
will be more than ready to give another great show to the
fans in Corpus Christi and everyone watching live on ESPN.”
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