BROOKLYN, NY — Perhaps for the 23-year-old Puerto Rican Xander Zayas, proud of his heritage, born in San Juan, and residing in South Florida, his next challenge is too early in his brief reign as a unified junior middleweight champion.
That being his second title defense of two belts on Saturday, June 27th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York against undefeated Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, the 154-pound interim champion, a Matchroom Boxing promoted fighter from Philadelphia who finishes off opponents with a devastating combination of punches.
To Zayas, though this is the fight he wants. The division is deep and talented, also with WBC champion Sebastain Fundora, a Mexican-American from West Palm Beach, Florida. Ennis was in line for a grudge meeting with Vergil Ortiz Jr. but the fight never came to fruition because of a promotional dispute with Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, purse issues, and splits of who gets what.
But that’s another story with Ortiz and De La Hoya, now in the hands of litigation. Zayas and Ennis is the story here, a fight that will be streamed live on DAZN PPV, anticipated now and can be called mega as they often say in boxing.
The thing is—Zayas is no longer the young prospect who signed a promotional deal at 16-years of age with Top Rank Boxing and Bob Arum. He knows boxing, is patient, and worked his way towards a title opportunity. Zayas is now the Puerto Rico boxing product destined to be in the same class with Hall of Famers Félix Trinidad, four division champion Miguel Cotto, and other elite names from Puerto Rico.
The official fight poster for Xander Zayas vs. Jaron “Boots” Ennis which was officially announced to the public earlier last month – Image Credit: DAZN/Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank Boxing
This past Wednesday afternoon at the Barclays Center at their first face-off, it was a mature Zayas. He said this is now about establishing a legacy, in the same tone of Trinidad, Cotto, and the others.
And Zayas on the dais as Ennis listened stressed, he has already established a legacy, but he wants more at his young age.
“It’s always been about legacy,” said Zayas. “Becoming the youngest star to sign with Top Rank. Legacy. Becoming the youngest world champion at 22 when I did it. And now fighting one of the best in the world, in the division. It’s about legacy.”
His agenda was centered around that word legacy, and in time, there are those in boxing who have always said that Zayas would stand out with the best who have been in the ring in this illustrious sport. However as Ennis said that legacy won’t come in Brooklyn.
Xander Zayas and Jaron “Boots” Ennis go back and forth during their press conference this past Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn, NY – Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing
Indeed, Zayas may have the opponent that could put a halt to that continued plan of a legacy, then again we won’t know until they trade punches this coming June. This is a compelling championship fight of unification, both undefeated and with many years ahead to establish their names as that legacy fighter.
And Ennis has no intention of allowing Zayas to continue his legacy.
“Like I always say, you can watch me all day,” he said. “Once you get in that ring it’s a whole different story. I’m a lot faster than what you think. I’m a lot stronger than what you think. My IQ is higher than what you think, He’s gonna be in for a long night.”
Though the 28-year old Ennis (35-0, 31 KO’s) tends to drop his opponents, his last fight in October, Uisma Lima could not get out of the first round. Ennis is a hard puncher and goes to the body. Zayas, too, knows how to counter and with 23 fights under his belt, has gone the distance in his last two fights. A split decision title defense in San Juan in January versus Abass Baraou had the skeptics talking because the hometown fans wanted a knockout.
But Zayas likes to work his opponent, except this won’t be easy with Ennis. Regardless this was a fight Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn (Ennis) and Top Rank (Zayas) were able to arrange and easier to deliver with both aligned with DAZN.
And with the maturity of Zayas, he has learned and developed that knack of delivering at the podium. Friendly always but Zayas is now a champion and assured Ennis the belts are staying with him. During the face-off, Ennis touched the championship belts around Zayas and that’s when this fight became official.
Xander Zayas and Jaron “Boots” Ennis will square off for the unified super welterweight title on Saturday, June 27th at the Barclays Center – Image Credit: Zachariah Delgado/Matchroom Boxing
Top Rank Boxing president Todd duBoef said about Zayas and taking on Ennis: “We’re not holding him back, We’re letting the race car go.”
That showed more how Top Rank has progressed Zayas as the prospect to a champion.
Hearn said Zayas is in for his toughest task and there is limited debate as Ennis is tough to handle, and hard to defeat. But that maturity and progression got Zayas to the top and recognized as that young superstar at what he does.
There are fights that can define a real legacy, it’s chronicled in boxing history. Zayas and Ennis could be defining another legacy in June.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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