Headlining for the first time in his career, Xander Zayas impressed once again.
The 21-year-old rising star overwhelmed former junior middleweight world champion Patrick Teixeira via unanimous decision at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Judges scored it 100-90, 100-90 and 99-91 all in favor of Zayas who improved to 19-0 with 12 knockouts.
The Puerto Rican boxer's streak of never being outlanded in a bout continued as he changed levels and kept his punch volume high against a seasoned veteran southpaw in Teixeira who just couldn't keep up with Zayas' slicing angles and output. Zayas threatened a stoppage behind a barrage of punches in the eighth round though Teixeira managed to survive the frame and go the distance, sporting a cut over his left eye for his troubles.
"I feel like it was a tough test but I passed it with flying colors," Zayas told ESPN.
"Before you go 12, you got to go 10 [rounds] — I did it today," he added. "I graduated against a former world champion. I feel like that was the rounds I needed and I'm ready for whatever names they throw at me now."
Erickson Lubin and Josh Kelly were a couple of boxers Zayas mentioned as opponents he'd be interested in clashing with as he looks to continue his climb up the junior middleweight ladder.