Teofimo Lopez and Josh Taylor may have captured the attention during the pre-fight press conferences, but Zander Xayas aims to steal the spotlight on the night of the fight.

Tonight, the undefeated Xayas will face Ronald Cruz at The Hulu Theatre inside Madison Square Garden, located in the vibrant city of New York. This eight-round bout will precede the main event featuring Taylor and Lopez, and fans can catch both fights live on ESPN, with the broadcast starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

During Friday's weigh-in, Zayas tipped the scales at 152.8 pounds, while Cruz weighed in at 152.4 pounds. Zayas, hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico but now residing in Sunrise, Florida, showcased his skills most recently on December 10, securing a decision victory over Alexis Salazar Flores after eight dominant rounds. This triumph unfolded on the same stage, upstairs in the arena at Madison Square Garden.

In his previous encounter on August 13, Zayas achieved a fifth-round stoppage against Elias Espadas, highlighting his prowess in the ring.

Originally scheduled for April 1 on a Top Rank card in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Zayas-Cruz fight encountered a setback when Zayas had to withdraw due to an injury sustained during training camp. However, determined to face Cruz, Zayas communicated his desire to Top Rank, resulting in the fight being rescheduled.

Cruz, a fighter hailing from North Hollywood, a suburb of Los Angeles, possesses a record of 18-2-1, with 12 knockouts. However, he has encountered setbacks in his last two outings, including a decision loss to Damian Sosa in his most recent bout on August 26.

Despite Cruz's recent struggles, Zayas remained resolute in his choice to face him, expressing, "When the fight got postponed, we contacted Top Rank and insisted on this opponent. They granted my request, and now we find ourselves here. I am thrilled to showcase the fruits of our labor. Cruz is motivated and eagerly awaiting this opportunity. I anticipate an impressive performance from him."

The upcoming event coincides with the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade. Although Zayas has previously fought at Madison Square Garden on several occasions, this will be the first time he competes during the weekend when the parade graces the streets of Manhattan.

Deeply proud of his Puerto Rican heritage, Zayas aims to add his name to the illustrious lineage of legendary fighters from Puerto Rico, such as Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gomez, Felix Trinidad, Ivan Calderon, and Miguel Cotto, to name just a few.

The unbeaten Zayas eagerly anticipates demonstrating his continuously improving talent. Not only does he seek to impress and make a statement against Cruz, but he also hopes this will be the first of many opportunities to fight in New York City during a Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend.

"This marks my first time fighting on the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend," shared Zayas. "I am genuinely excited about this event. Witnessing various cultures come together and deliver an outstanding show at Madison Square Garden and in New York City is truly amazing. I am prepared to put on a remarkable performance for all my Puerto Rican fans on Saturday night."