"This is what happens when you put in the work and wait your turn,"
"Everything aligned for me and big things happened. In 2026, I started off on the right foot by putting the work in, keeping my head down and when the opportunities came, I was there to shine."
"This was the greatest experience of my entire life,"
"I expected to become a unified world champion, but I never expected to be part of the Super Bowl."
On Jan. 31, Xander Zayas defeated Abass Baraou by unanimous decision in front of his hometown fans to become the unified junior middleweight champion. On Feb. 1 he flew to San Francisco to rehearse with Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl LX halftime show and made a cameo alongside Mexican boxer Emiliano Vargas as a nod to Puerto Rico–Mexico boxing rivalry that went viral. The halftime lineup included Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G and Ronald Acuna Jr. Zayas is signed to Rimas Sports, received an invitation two weeks before his fight, and called the experience the greatest of his life while noting 2026 started as a breakout year after sustained effort.
Read at ESPN.com
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