488: Unified WBA and WBO Champion Xander Zayas on having a Championship Mindset

Live from Super Bowl Radio Row, Joe Favorito welcomes Xander Zayas, the newly crowned unified world champion in the light middleweight division, for a conversation on championship mindset, the business of boxing, and representing Puerto Rico on a global stage. Zayas reflects on visualizing success long before stepping into the ring, detailing the discipline, sacrifice, and preparation that led him to become the youngest unified world champion in the sport. He shares his journey from growing up in Puerto Rico and starting boxing at age five to signing with Top Rank as a teenager and navigating the complex business realities behind major fights. The discussion also explores brand partnerships, the growing influence of Latino athletes and fans across sports, and Zayas’ perspective on inspiration, mentorship, and using his platform to motivate the next generation. The episode highlights how boxing, culture, and global sports storytelling intersect at the highest level.Follow Xander on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xander.zayas/?hl=enThe CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Sam Henry (@s_henry11), LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Lissa Ruiz. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecuspshow.substack.com