Zayas did little to quiet that discussion when the conversation turned to how high he might climb in weight during his career.
“I will definitely touch 75,” Zayas said to Tobin when asked how far up the scale he might eventually go.
The comment drew notice because the 23-year-old only recently unified titles at 154. His split-decision win over Abass Baraou added the WBA belt to the WBO title he captured earlier in the year, leaving him one of the youngest champions in the sport.
Weight growth can redirect a career quickly. Fighters who begin carrying more natural size eventually reach a point where making the lower division becomes harder between camps. At that stage, promoters must decide whether to keep a fighter squeezing into the same weight or begin planning a move upward.
In Zayas’ case, the timing carries extra importance because his promoter, Top Rank, has tried to build him into an East Coast attraction. The company has regularly placed Zayas on cards connected to Puerto Rican markets and New York events, a route once used to build fighters such as Felix Trinidad.
That strategy usually works best when a young champion remains in one division long enough to secure significant fights and grow a following. A move several divisions higher can interrupt that path, especially if the fighter ends up meeting opponents with greater experience and natural size.
Light heavyweight already includes fighters like Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, David Benavidez, and David Morrell, opponents who carry far more experience and natural size than most junior middleweights.
Each operates at a different stage of development from most junior middleweights and brings a physical advantage.
For now, Zayas has said his priority is securing the biggest available fights at 154. He has mentioned names such as Josh Kelly and Devin Haney while continuing to build his record.
Size remains part of that discussion. During the interview, Zayas suggested that Devin Haney would feel the difference if they ever fought, saying he believes he is simply too big for the former lightweight champion. Haney has competed in multiple divisions, though Zayas’ height and frame would present a different challenge.
Questions about how long Zayas can remain at junior middleweight are likely to continue as his career moves forward. At 23, he still has time to decide how far up the ladder he will travel.
If his body continues growing at its current pace, the decision about moving up could arrive sooner than his team expected.
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