Xander Zayas exclusive: 'If I can have half the career Miguel Cotto had then I'll be happy'

Like many other Puerto Ricans, Xander Zayas grew up idolising Miguel Cotto.

Now the highly-touted super-welterweight prospect, 19, is making a big impression on Bob Arum having signed his first professional contract with Top Rank in 2019, and hopes to emulate his old mentor ‘Junito’.

Zayas’ all-action fighting style, the result of his time spent sparring former unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr, is reminiscent of Puerto Rican legend Cotto.

And the youngster revealed he spent most of his childhood watching old video tapes of Cotto’s fights against the likes of Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao.

“I was born in 2002, and I always like to look back at some of the legendary fights, but the one that really stood out the most for me was Miguel Cotto,” Zayas exclusively told GiveMeSport.com.

“He is my favourite boxer of all time, a Puerto Rican boxer that inside the ring and outside the ring is a gentleman you know, is a great guy.

“I know him personally and he is somebody that has inspired me since I first started boxing.

“Cotto was the guy in Puerto Rico at the time who was bringing all the glory back to us.

“So you know for me growing up, he was the guy I looked up to.

“I used to watch him fight Zab Judah, obviously his fight with Manny Pacquiao, when he fought Antonio Margarito twice. I always rewatch his fights when I get the chance.

“If I can have half the career he had, then I’ll be happy.”

‘I WAS A VICTIM OF BULLYING’

Zayas’ mother first took him to a boxing gym when he was just five years old.

And he added: “I was a victim of bullying so she took me there so I could learn how to defend myself.

“The first time I walked in there, I saw these guys throwing punches at the bag, so I was