Puerto Rico's boxing pride soars with 23-year-old Xander Zayas as he claims title in historic victory.
In a stunning display of skill and determination, Zayas defeated Abass Baraou to become the youngest active unified world champion in history. The young Puerto Rican boxer, just 23 years old, achieved this remarkable milestone in his hometown of San Juan, marking a significant moment for boxing enthusiasts worldwide.
Zayas's victory was met with immense pride as he expressed his emotions, stating, "I feel amazing. I'm only 23, and I'm the youngest active unified champion. And, I'm just getting started." His confidence is well-deserved, given the display of prowess he showcased in the ring. Zayas employed a clever game plan that utilized his feet to great effect, jabbing and landing short combinations with precision.
The decisive round came in the ninth, when Zayas landed his most impressive shot – a perfect right hand that left Baraou wobbly but still standing. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in the fight, as two judges scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Zayas, while one judge had it slightly closer at 112-116.
However, even amidst his victory, Zayas's focus on the task at hand never wavered. He acknowledged the challenges he faced and how they drove him to succeed. "I hurt my left hand in the ninth round... But I figured it out, like all champs do," he said, demonstrating his characteristic resilience.
Baraou himself praised Zayas's performance, saying, "Congrats to him. I'm proud of his performance. He did an amazing job. He beat me fair and square. He deserves it." Despite the loss, Baraou expressed his admiration for Zayas's skill and vowed to return stronger.
Zayas's remarkable achievement marks a significant moment in Puerto Rican boxing history. His dominance on the canvas has set him up as a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional boxing, and fans can't wait to see what he does next.
In a stunning display of skill and determination, Zayas defeated Abass Baraou to become the youngest active unified world champion in history. The young Puerto Rican boxer, just 23 years old, achieved this remarkable milestone in his hometown of San Juan, marking a significant moment for boxing enthusiasts worldwide.
Zayas's victory was met with immense pride as he expressed his emotions, stating, "I feel amazing. I'm only 23, and I'm the youngest active unified champion. And, I'm just getting started." His confidence is well-deserved, given the display of prowess he showcased in the ring. Zayas employed a clever game plan that utilized his feet to great effect, jabbing and landing short combinations with precision.
The decisive round came in the ninth, when Zayas landed his most impressive shot – a perfect right hand that left Baraou wobbly but still standing. This pivotal moment marked a turning point in the fight, as two judges scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Zayas, while one judge had it slightly closer at 112-116.
However, even amidst his victory, Zayas's focus on the task at hand never wavered. He acknowledged the challenges he faced and how they drove him to succeed. "I hurt my left hand in the ninth round... But I figured it out, like all champs do," he said, demonstrating his characteristic resilience.
Baraou himself praised Zayas's performance, saying, "Congrats to him. I'm proud of his performance. He did an amazing job. He beat me fair and square. He deserves it." Despite the loss, Baraou expressed his admiration for Zayas's skill and vowed to return stronger.
Zayas's remarkable achievement marks a significant moment in Puerto Rican boxing history. His dominance on the canvas has set him up as a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional boxing, and fans can't wait to see what he does next.
HE'S REALLY PROOF THAT WITH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING!!!
man this kid is insane! 23 years old and already world champ? that's like me getting promoted to senior manager at 25 lol. but for real, his game plan was fire 
, all those jabs and short combos, i was on the edge of my seat watching. and that one shot in the 9th round? 
perfect right hand that left Baraou reeling. puerto rico must be so proud 
finally got some recognition and it's not like they've been training in empty gyms all these years... just kidding (kinda). seriously though, zayas is a total boss and his dedication is inspiring. 23 and already the youngest unified champ? that's impressive, even if he did have a pretty good excuse for hurting his hand 
at least he didn't cry about it like some other champs. baraou was cool about losing too, gives me hope for the future of boxing not being all about drama and trash talk.
. I'm hyped to watch his next fight, who's gonna stop him? 
i'm so hyped 4 him, he's got the skills & the confidence 2 back it up 
his game plan was clever, all those jabs & short combos paid off big time 
baraou gave him props too, nice 1! 
the kid's got heart nd determination 4 sure! nd yeah lets see wut zayas does next 
i mean, 23 yrs old & already a champ?!?! thats insane! i'm hella proud of him too lol idk how much more skillz he cud possibly show us 
. It'll be interesting to see how he handles the pressure and expectations now that he's the champion 
. now let's see what the future holds for this talented young boxer... 
. He won because Baraou was a bit rusty, and Zayas exploited that weak spot in his game plan 
. And can we really call him the youngest unified world champ? There's gotta be some kinda loophole there 
#ZayasIsKing 
. I love how he stays focused even when things get tough, like that nasty left hand injury in the 9th round 
. But, like all champs do, he figured it out and came out on top 
but what really impresses me is how he stayed focused despite getting hurt in the process 
can't wait to see him take on the best opponents next 
i love how he didn't let the injury get him down tho