Xander Zayas is 21. Finally. The junior middleweight has quite literally grown up before the boxing community’s eyes, beginning at 18 to where he is today—contender status.

Zayas (17-0, 11 knockouts) would like to break through that threshold next year. He is very aware of how the process works. He has been patiently built, the old-school way, towards becoming a world titlist.

His steps continue Saturday night against 33-year-old Spaniard Jorge Fortea (24-3-1, 9 KOs) in a 10-round co-feature on Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez’s WBO featherweight title defense against Mexican contender Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

“I think I’m ready, I’m ready to show the world that I’m ready for the next step moving from contender status to fighting world champions,” said Zayas, the WBO’s No.2-ranked junior middleweight behind Josh Kelly and WBO titlist Tim Tszyu. “I’m at that stage. I feel that is how far I have evolved. Being honest, I feel strong throwing combinations and my defense is getting a lot better.”

Zayas knows Fortea is an experienced fighter who has fought for 14 years and taken on contenders like Anthony Fowler.

Zayas is also his harshest critic. No one will take a more discerning eye than he will on himself. He is coming off a fifth-round stoppage of Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in September in what may be his best performance to date as a pro.

“I’m motivated and ready,” Zayas said. “In my last fight, it was a great performance. I could have been more accurate with my combinations. I wanted to stick with the game plan. I do think it was my best performance. I had a great camp and I think this fight will be even better.”

In watching the tape, Zayas felt he looked poised and patient. He executed the game plan. He also stressed that he is not looking ahead. His focus will be plunged into beating Fortea.

The plan is a title shot in 2024. He also wants to fight three times next year.

“I’m No. 2 now in the WBO and I feel I can beat (Josh Kelly) the guy ahead of me,” Zayas said. “That’s the goal in 2024—a title shot. I know I am ready for that next step.”

Peter Kahn, the 2022 BWAA Manager of the Year, has steadily positioned Zayas in increments. He feels his fighter is primed to make his move and beating Fortea will jumpstart that direction.

“Xander keeps moving forward with the challenges placed in front of him, every fight presents him with a different challenge,” Kahn said. “Top Rank keeps developing him against different styles. This will be his second scheduled 10-rounder. This is in preparation for the long-term goal.”

Fortea is looking to derail the swift-moving Zayas train.

“This is boxing,” he said. “And anything can happen. I’ve prepared very well because they notified me of this fight ahead of time. My goal right now is to win this fight. It will move me up the ladder and allow me to have more fights at this level.”

Joseph Santoliquito is hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito

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