Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis: Tim Bradley weighs in

On June 27 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis will headline a Matchroom Boxing card in association with Top Rank for Zayas’ WBO/WBA super welterweight title. The main card will stream live on DAZN PPV. Ahead of this intriguing match-up, former two-weight world champion Tim Bradley has spoken to FightHype TV, breaking down the fight.

Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) became a world champion, defeating Jorge Garcia Perez to win the WBO title, before winning a split decision against Abass Baraou to put himself at the top of the division. What impresses many about Zayas is his desire to face the best.

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) will be looking to become a two-weight world champion by defeating Zayas. Boots is considered elite by many after unifying at welterweight, beating Eimantas Stanionis to add the WBA strap to his IBF crown. After this, he moved to super welterweight and blew away Uisma Lima in a round to collect the interim WBA title.

Tim Bradley has his say on June 27

Speaking on FightHype, Bradley refused to side with either man, calling it “50-50.” Praising Zayas, Bradley said: “He’s always been mature for his age… it’s like he’s already done this before,” and pointed to his composure: “He has a really high boxing IQ… you can tell not only in the ring, but outside as well.”

“At 23, two belts, and you want to face that guy… I’m like, man, calm down for a second,” Bradley added.

He also believes the fight will bring the best out of Ennis. “There’s been so much hype around him… and we haven’t seen the best Boots yet,” Bradley said, adding that “when the competition gets better, everything sharpens.” He summed it up bluntly: “This fight right here is going to wake up a beast.”

Identifying the reward on offer for Zayas: “He’s not afraid… he truly believes he can beat Boots,” said the former two-weight world champion.

“If he can pull this off… a new star is born,” added the American.

Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis full fight card

• Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis, 12 rounds, for Zayas’ WBO/WBA super welterweight title
• Emiliano Vargas vs Bryce Mills, 10 rounds, super lightweights
• Ben Whittaker vs Richie Rivera, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
• Jahi Tucker vs Euri Cedeno, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Juanma Lopez De Jesus vs Alberto Motos, 6 rounds, super flyweights
• Quincey Williams vs Jerome Baxter, 8 rounds, welterweights
• Dennis Thompson vs Edwin Rodriguez, 8 rounds, super bantamweights

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Xander Zayas vs Boots Ennis, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.

Featured Image Credit:

Matchroom Boxing X Account