Unified super welterweight champion, Xander Zayas, and challenger, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, met with the press for the first time since confirming their super-fight for June 27 at the Barclays Center in New York City and made promises that will please the most bloodthirsty of boxing fans.
Zayas is one of the most improved fighters in recent years, won the WBO world title with a decision win over Jorge Garcia Perez in 2025, and began the year by annexing Abass Baraou’s WBA belt with a split decision nod in Puerto Rico.
Boots is not as decorated but arguably just as, if not more, skillful thanks to the considerable punching prowess displayed in fights against Sergey Lipinets, Karen Chukhadzhian, and Eimantis Stanionis, among others.
He was due to step-up against Vergil Ortiz in the best non title fight that boxing could book, and even engaged Ortiz in a cinematic face-off DAZN aired, last year. But legal issues between Ortiz, his representative Rick Mirigian, and the fighter’s promoter, Oscar de la Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, has seen Ortiz shelved, for now.
But Ortiz’s loss is Zayas’s gain as he wasted no time campaigning for the fight, and booked it with relative ease.
And though Ennis may not have the rivalry with Zayas as he would have done with Ortiz, when speaking to the media they regardless talked a big game, promising knockouts and more.
“Xander bit off way more than he can chew,” said Ennis. “Come fight night, he’ll see. I’m going to show everyone that I’m the best in the world.”
Addressing Zayas directly, he said: “I’m faster than you think. I’m stronger and I have a better IQ, too.”
Boots said Zayas is “going to be in for a long night” and added that he, “for sure”, is going to knock him out.
Zayas, though, has his own predictions.
“[Ennis] has never faced an athletic fighters like me,” he said, adding: “I never go out there looking for the knockout. But I promise I’m going to rip his heart out. I guarantee you that.
“He’s going to be uncomfortable. I’m going to show you come June 27.”
