Zayas vs Ennis: Fight Week Is Here And Brooklyn Is Buzzing

Right Then, This Is A Proper One

Right then, fight week is finally here for the one the hardcore have been circling for months. Xander Zayas defends his unified WBO and WBA junior middleweight titles against Jaron 'Boots' Ennis this Saturday, June 27, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, live on DAZN pay-per-view. Let's not beat around the bush — this is the biggest fight either man has ever taken, by a distance. Two unbeaten records, two genuine talents, and a Brooklyn crowd that'll be split straight down the middle between the Puerto Rican faithful and the travelling Philly support. That's the kind of atmosphere that makes a fighter, and on Saturday one of these 0s has to go.

What Zayas Brings

Zayas is 23-0 with 13 knockouts and, at just 23 years old, he's already a unified world champion. He announced himself properly in January when he edged Abass Baraou by split decision to add the WBA strap to his WBO belt. He's the naturally bigger man here, he's been campaigning at 154 for years, and he's fighting in the city he's adopted as his own. Make no mistake, that matters. Zayas boxes with a maturity that belies his age. He's patient, he picks his shots, and he's got a lovely jab to build behind. The question is whether patience is enough against a finisher like Boots.

What Ennis Brings

Ennis is 35-0 with 31 knockouts, and if you know, you know — he's one of the most gifted fighters on the planet. A natural switch-hitter with sickening power in both hands, Boots held the IBF and WBA welterweight titles before vacating to chase bigger nights. He last fought in October, blowing away Uisma Lima in a round to grab the interim 154 belt. The only real questions are the move up in weight and his activity. He's a welterweight by trade carrying his power up to 154, and he's not been the busiest. But on talent alone, Ennis is levels above most of the division.

The Prediction

I've gone back and forth on this one, and I'm not going to sit on the fence. I think Ennis is the more naturally gifted fighter and the bigger puncher, and I fancy him to find the timing in the middle rounds. Zayas will have his moments early behind that jab, and the crowd will roar him on, but I reckon Boots' power eventually tells. Ennis by late stoppage, somewhere around the ninth or tenth, and he announces himself as a two-weight world champion on the grandest stage. That said — if Zayas can drag it into deep waters and use his size, don't be shocked if the kid nicks a decision. This is a proper fight, and that's exactly why I can't wait.