Xander Zayas shares his thoughts on taking part in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance.
On the evening of January 31, Xander Zayas from Puerto Rico (23-0, 13 KOs) was commemorating the most significant victory of his boxing journey after becoming the unified junior middleweight champion by defeating Abass Barou via unanimous decision in front of his local supporters.
The following morning, February 1, Zayas boarded a flight to San Francisco to join Bad Bunny for rehearsals for his role in the much-anticipated Super Bowl LX halftime show featuring the Puerto Rican artist.
It is safe to say that the past two weeks have been a remarkable period for Zayas.
“This is the result of hard work and patience,” Zayas, 23, stated to ESPN on Tuesday. “Everything fell into place for me, and significant achievements occurred. In 2026, I began on the right path by dedicating myself, maintaining focus, and seizing the opportunities that arose.”
Zayas, who currently holds the title of boxing’s youngest world champion, made a brief appearance during Bad Bunny’s performance alongside Mexican boxer Emiliano Vargas, symbolizing the historic boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico in a moment that quickly gained popularity online.
They were part of a celebrity lineup that included Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, and Ronald Acuna Jr., as Bad Bunny’s dynamic performance celebrated Puerto Rican culture.
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Zayas — who is affiliated with Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports — mentioned to ESPN last September that he aimed for a breakout year in 2026, but he did not anticipate such an extraordinary start.
“This was the most incredible experience of my life,” Zayas remarked, expressing his surprise when singer Ricky Martin, who also performed at the event, recognized him. “I expected to become a unified world champion, but I never imagined being part of the Super Bowl.”
Two weeks prior to his match against WBA junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou, Zayas received an invitation to participate in Bad Bunny’s halftime show. The clear response was “yes,” but Zayas still had a priority: securing a victory against Baraou, which he achieved through a thrilling unanimous decision in Puerto Rico.
“I didn’t want to be at the Super Bowl as a loser, so I definitely needed to secure that win first,” Zayas explained. “They understood and made no arrangements until I won. However, his team informed me that once I won on January 31, I had to fly out the very next day for practice. So, I literally fought Saturday night, left the venue at 3 a.m., and boarded a flight to San Francisco.”
Bad Bunny was in Los Angeles on February 1 to accept a Grammy for his album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” which won Album of the Year. Nevertheless, he had watched Zayas’ fight the night before.
Upon Bad Bunny’s arrival in San Francisco, he warmly embraced Zayas as they briefly celebrated their respective victories before getting to work. Zayas had the chance to preview Bad Bunny’s plans and felt proud of what the Latin rapper was preparing to showcase.
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“I felt immense pride because I got to experience everything before it unfolded,” Zayas said. “I witnessed all the effort that went into it from everyone, not just the performers but the entire production team. It was an incredible experience, from dining with everyone to standing next to Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga.”
For someone whose profession is boxing, Zayas admitted that his cameo was more anxiety-inducing than any fight he has ever participated in.
“Boxing is my profession, so I am always prepared, but I have never been at the Super Bowl,” Zayas stated. “I’ve never been in front of 70,000 people, and I certainly did not want to make a mistake. So, I was very cautious and quite nervous.”
With the weekend behind him and considerable attention on his next steps, Zayas is already planning his upcoming fight.
“[IBF junior middleweight champion] Josh Kelly is my next target,” Zayas declared, expressing his desire to secure the fight at Madison Square Garden in New York during the Puerto Rican Day parade weekend on June 13. “I want all the belts. I’m aiming to be like Thanos and collect all the Infinity Stones to eliminate everyone.”
While he awaits the arrangement of that fight, Zayas can take pride in the fact that he has achieved more in two weeks than many accomplish in a lifetime. Still, he believes even greater accomplishments lie ahead in his career.
“For now, I’m going to relax in Puerto Rico and savor this moment, but every moment from now on will be bigger and better than the last because I need to continue building my legacy,” he concluded.
