Xander Zayas Becomes Boxing’s Youngest Active World Champion at 22

Xander Zayas made history at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, becoming the youngest active world boxing champion at just 22 years old. The Puerto Rican star claimed the vacant WBO light-middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Mexico’s Jorge Garcia Perez.

Zayas (22-0), who turned professional at age 17, impressed with sharp jabs and powerful right hands, earning judges’ scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109.

“This is a dream come true,” said Zayas. “To see my Puerto Rican fans here, this is amazing. I could never dream of anything better than this.”

Tactical Brilliance

Zayas controlled the bout early with smart movement and effective body shots, while Garcia (33-5) found some success in a wild sixth round. But the Mexican couldn’t sustain the pressure, and Zayas used his jab to regain full control.

“The jab was the key to victory,” said Zayas. “I knew if I stood in front of him, I’d be fighting his fight. So, I did everything behind the jab.”

A New Puerto Rican Star

Zayas continues Puerto Rico’s proud boxing legacy, following in the footsteps of champions like Miguel Cotto, Felix Trinidad, and Wilfred Benitez — the latter still holding the all-time record as the youngest-ever world champion at 17 years and 176 days.

What’s Next?

With his undefeated record intact and a world title around his waist, Zayas now looks set for headline unification fights or high-profile defenses as he ascends the global boxing stage.