Xander Zayas could be one fight away from a title shot.

Zayas will face Slawa Spomer in the co-feature of Friday night’s card at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 22-year-old Zayas views this bout as his next step toward stardom – and to a near-future fight for a world title. Zayas, outfitted in a dapper suit at Wednesday’s press conference, arrived in town on Saturday. The event felt like a dress rehearsal for bigger occasions ahead. Zayas will be making his seventh appearance at Madison Square Garden, something he knew off memory alone, with hopes that No. 8 will be a title shot.

“New York is like a second home now,” Zayas said at the Wednesday presser. “I’m excited to put on a show for the fans once again and to put the 154lbs weight class on notice. I’m coming for the world title next.”

Spomer is trained by Hall of Fame boxer Roy Jones Jnr. That fact prompted a discussion about Zayas’ wins over opponents with acclaimed coaches while fighting under his childhood trainer. (Javiel Centeno has guided Zayas from amateur accolades to the bright lights of ESPN.)

Upon hearing of Spomer's corner, Zayas, 20-0 (12 KOs), brought up his resume against top trainers: “I am already 1-0 against Freddie Roach, I am 1-0 against [Robert] Garcia, too. I guess Roy Jones is going to get it, too.” Turning to Centeno, Zayas said, “Coach, we will continue to collect victories over legendary trainers and fighters.”

Spomer, undefeated at 20-0 (11 KOs), will be making his U.S. debut, having notably stopped Milan Prat in 2023, in the biggest win of his career. Last year Spomer fought just once, earning a technical knockout over Adam Ngange in the first round. Despite Spomer’s relatively low profile in the US, Zayas sees him as the world-ranked opponent that he is. 

“He’s ranked at No. 11 in the WBO for a reason,” said Zayas, 20-0 (12 KOs). “He’s 20-0 for a reason. He has good victories behind him. But I’m looking forward to becoming 21-0 on Friday night, and to the great opportunities coming next in 2025.”

Top Rank Vice President of Boxing Operations Carl Moretti echoed the high hopes for Zayas over the coming year. 

“We anticipate him fighting for the title this year,” Moretti said. “Bigger than that, we anticipate winning the title fight this year.”

Lucas Ketelle took an unconventional path to boxing, eventually finding his stride in gyms and media. For the past decade, he has hosted the “Lukie Boxing” podcast, filmed training camps for fighters like Arnold Barboza Jnr, Mikey Garcia and Caleb Plant, and worked with top professionals such as Mike Bazzel. Ketelle is also an author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for ProBox TV, BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @LukieBoxing.