Xander Zayas is set to put his unified WBO and WBA world super welterweight titles on the line against dangerous Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on June 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Recently, Tim Bradley weighed in on the fight and shared his thoughts. He highlighted the risks, mindset, and high stakes involved in the matchup.
The fight has generated strong interest and a heated face-off in the pre-fight press conference, where they had to be separated, which has elevated the excitement among fans.
Bradley questions timing but praises Zayas confidence
Speaking on FightHype, Bradley was asked to make his prediction; he expressed skepticism and has not ruled out either fighter’s chances to win the bout.
“I’m 50-50 on that,” Bradley said.
Bradley admitted he is divided on whether this is the right time for Zayas to take such a fight. However, he also praised Zayas for his maturity, noting that the young fighter has always carried himself like a seasoned professional.
“He’s always been mature for his age… it’s like he’s already done this before,” Bradley explained.
Zayas signed with Top Rank at a young age and has developed quickly both inside and outside the ring. According to Bradley, his composure and boxing IQ stand out.
“He has a really high boxing IQ… you can tell not only in the ring, but outside as well.”
Despite that, Bradley questioned whether stepping in with Ennis at this stage is the right move.
“At 23, two belts, and you want to face that guy… I’m like, man, calm down for a second,” he added.
Bradley backs Ennis to step up against Zayas
Bradley believes this fight could bring out the best version of ‘Boots’, who has long been viewed as one of the most talented fighters in boxing.
“There’s been so much hype around him… and we haven’t seen the best Boots yet,” Bradley said.
He pointed to Ennis’ previous performance as a glimpse of his ability but insisted that his best is yet to come.
According to Bradley, elite fighters tend to perform better when facing stronger opposition.
“When the competition gets better, everything sharpens,” he explained.
He described Ennis as a fighter who becomes more focused and dangerous under pressure.
“This fight right here is going to wake up a beast,” Bradley added.
Bradley believes Zayas fearless mindset could redefine his career
While Bradley sees the danger for Zayas, he also acknowledged the potential reward if the young champion pulls off an upset.
“He’s not afraid… he truly believes he can beat Boots,” Bradley said.
That belief, combined with his skill set, makes the fight intriguing despite the risks.
Bradley emphasized that if Zayas wins, it would immediately change his career trajectory.
“If he can pull this off… a new star is born,” he said.
Heading into the fight, many are counting Zayas out. However, he remains focused and has seen Ennis as just another opponent, stating he is not afraid of his opponent’s reputation.
Ennis has 35 victories to his name, out of which 31 came via knockout. Zayas holds a professional record of 23 wins, during which he has stopped 13 opponents.
