Xander Zayas

Inactivity and adjustment On December 17, 2018, Zayas met with advisor Peter Kahn along his immediate family, having decided to turn professional. Kahn had known of the boxer since he was thirteen, through Centeno, and had brought the topic to Bob Arum and Brad Jacobs the month before. Despite considering him a "quality young man" and having a feeling that mirrored his assessment of Oscar De La Hoya coming out of the 1992 Summer Olympics about the possibility of becoming "a big superstar", the promoter urged caution since he was a "work in progress" and the company had never handled someone that young. Zayas embraced the idea, noting that he felt "ready to be that next superstar and to be someone they look up to. I want to make my people in Puerto Rico feel proud to be Puerto Rican and proud to have me as a superstar for them."

Professional career Under the Top Rank banner, Zayas made his professional debut against previously undefeated (1–0) Genesis Wynn on October 26, 2019, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada, winning via first round knockout (KO). He recorded two knockdowns prior to the stoppage. A month later, Zayas made his second appearance on November 30 with a repeat performance of his debut, this time against Virgel Windfield. Like his previous match, he scored two knockdowns. Zayas’ first decision win was over Corey Champion, out boxing his opponent throughout four rounds to win via unanimous decision.

On February 28, 2020, Zayas had his first fight as a professional in Puerto Rico, scoring a third-round technical knockout over Marklin Bailey. Following a lengthy hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to action by defeating Orlando Salgado in the first round on September 4, 2020. The following month, Zayas scored a first-round technical knockout over Anthony Curtiss. Zayas opened the 2021 season by earning a unanimous decision over James Martin in February, going on to score consecutive technical knockouts over DeMarcus Layton and Larry Fryers to close the first half. He concluded 2021 with six fights, outscoring José Luis Sánchez in September before scoring consecutive technical knockouts over Dan Karpency and Alessio Mastronunzio.

Zayas opened 2022, a year where his stated goal is to enter the world ranks, by going the distance to eight rounds for the first time against Quincy Lavallais. He was scheduled to fight for a regional title in the co-main event of a Top Rank card on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, but withdrew due to a viral infection. On August 13, 2022, Zayas defeated Elías Espadas by technical knockout in five rounds to win the NABO super welterweight championship.

Zayas was scheduled to face Patrick Teixeira at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 2024. Zayas won the fight by unanimous decision with the scores 100–90, 100–90, 99–91.

Zayas was scheduled to face Damian Sosa at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on September 27, 2024. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

At the same venue on February 14, 2025, Zayas stopped Slawa Spomer in the ninth round.

WBO super welterweight champion Zayas vs. Garcia Perez Zayas faced Jorge Garcia Perez for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title in New York, on July 26, 2025. He defeated Garcia Perez by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout in favor of Zayas, 116–112, 118–110, and 119–109.

WBO and WBA super welterweight champion Zayas vs. Baraou In his first defense of the WBO super welterweight title, Zayas faced WBA super welterweight champion Abass Baraou in a championship unification bout at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 31, 2026. He won by split decision with two of the ringside judges both scoring the fight 116-112 in his favour while the third had it for his opponent by the same margin.

Zayas vs. Ennis Zayas lost his unified WBA and WBO super welterweight titles to Jaron Ennis at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on June 27, 2026.

Personal life Zayas lives with his mother, stepfather and sister in Plantation, Florida. He did not know any English before moving there The prospect of continuing studies in criminal law was stated in an interview. Outside the ring, Zayas is a gaming enthusiast.

Professional boxing record