Xander Zayas identifies weakness in Boots ahead of unified title defence

On June 27 at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, Xander Zayas vs Jaron 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 showdown, Zayas spoke to Ariel Helwani, identifying a weakness he’s seen in Boots and revealing how quickly he accepted the offer for the fight.

Xander Zayas ready for Jaron Ennis showdown

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) comes into this unified title defence at the top of the super welterweight division. He became a world champion, defeating Jorge Garcia Perez to win the WBO strap, before winning a split decision against Abass Baraou, to win the WBA strap.

This will be Ennis’s (35-0, 31 KOs) second fight at 154, after blowing away Uisma Lima in a round to collect the interim WBA title. When speaking to Helwani, Zayas revealed a weakness he has seen in Boots:

“Boots is flat-footed, and he knows it… I think he would say I have better footwork than he does.”

Xander Zayas also explained why he jumped at the opportunity to fight Jaron Ennis:

“We found out that the fight with Vergil Ortiz and Boots Ennis was falling apart, so I contacted Top Rank and I told them that I wanted that fight.

“They sent the offer right away… They didn’t try to convince me at all, and there was no convincing to do. This is what I wanted to do.

“Everybody’s so afraid to put their record on the line or to put their belts on the line… I wanna consider myself the best in the sport. I gotta fight the best.”

Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis full fight card

• Xander Zayas vs Jaron 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 Jaron Ennis, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.

Featured Image Credit:

Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images