JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT
Zayas vs Ennis: Fight Day In Brooklyn — Boots Is The Danger, But Don't Write Off Xander
It's fight day at the Barclays Center. Xander Zayas defends his unified super welterweight belts against Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. Here's my final read and prediction.
June 27, 2026
By Luke Parker
- Xander Zayas defends his unified WBA and WBO super welterweight titles against Jaron 'Boots' Ennis tonight at the Barclays Center
- Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) is a heavy favourite, but is stepping up from welterweight against a naturally bigger champion
- Luke backs Ennis on points in a competitive fight, with Zayas tipped to have his moments in the middle rounds
Fight Day Has Arrived In Brooklyn
Right then, the wait is over. Tonight at the Barclays Center,
Xander Zayas defends his unified WBA and WBO super welterweight titles against
Jaron Ennis, and Zayas vs Ennis is the fight the 154-pound division has been demanding. Two unbeaten men, one set of belts, no excuses.
Let's not beat around the bush — Ennis is the betting favourite and rightly so. "Boots" has looked like a pound-for-pound talent for years, a slick, switch-hitting nightmare with genuine power. He arrives at 35-0 with 31 knockouts. That's a proper résumé.
Why Zayas Is Live
But here's where I won't sit on the fence: Xander Zayas is not just along for the ride. At 23-0, he's a naturally bigger man at 154, he's been campaigning at the weight while Ennis is stepping up from welterweight, and he's got the kind of poise that belies his age. The Puerto Rican has been groomed for exactly this stage.
Make no mistake, the size and the timing matter. Ennis carrying his power up to a full junior-middleweight is the great unknown of the night. If Zayas can make him feel the weight in the championship rounds, this gets very interesting very quickly.
The Brooklyn Card
The undercard is stacked. British light heavyweight
Ben Whittaker makes his American debut, and there's serious prospect action up and down the bill. Brooklyn always brings a proper atmosphere for a big fight night, and this one has the feel of an event.
My Prediction
Time to call it. I think Ennis is levels above most of the division, but Zayas is the toughest, biggest test of his career and he won't fold. I'm backing Boots to win — but on points, not the blow-out the odds suggest. Say Ennis by a competitive, hard-earned decision, with Zayas having his moments in the middle rounds and announcing himself as a future champion even in defeat.
If Zayas does pull it off, it's the best win on the entire 154 landscape and he becomes a star overnight. Either way, Zayas vs Ennis is must-watch boxing.
