Unified WBO and WBA junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) is in quest of greatness, wanting to be considered amongst the perfect of the perfect. On Saturday, June 27, he takes on the most important challenge of his profession by defending his titles against a boxer considered by many as elite, former lineal welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs). The winner of the match can have an argument for the highest fighter within the division.
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The young 23-year-old Xander has been on a gradual progression, having significantly stepped up the extent of his competition in his last two matches. Fighting in consecutive title fights.
First defeating Jorge Garcia Perez for the vacant WBO junior middleweight championship after which unifying the WBA title against Abass Baraou. The title matches were the primary 12-rounders of his profession. He was tested by each, but none more so than by Baraou, who landed probably the most by a Zayas opponent, 134 punches.
Abass had some familiarity with Xander, having previously sparred 80 rounds against him, and knew where potential weaknesses existed. When pressed with the precise amount of pressure, Zayas tends to get defensively sloppy. His footwork suffers, and he can get caught during angle changes. He must do significantly better against Boots, who has great speed and agility.
Xander believes he can outbox Jaron at mid to long range because of what he perceives as a poor performance by Boots in the primary Karen Chukhadzhian match. Zayas believes Ennis struggled to shut the space, effectively telling Showbizz The Adult in “Run the Tape” he feels Boots is slick in brief to mid-range but struggles at long range. Perception can sometimes be deceiving, though.
That was Jaron’s first fight to go the space at twelve rounds. It might not have been his most dominant performance as Karen selected to limit the exchanges, but he did manage to outland him 203 to 97. Holding Chukhadzhian to a lowly 16.9 percent connect percentage.
As compared, Zayas had two 12-round matches, and each went the space. Statistically, they were much closer than the Ennis-Chukhadzhian match as Xander defeated his opponents by closer margins, outlanding Perez by 69 and Baraou by 42 punches (Compubox).
Although Xander could also be athletic and robust, it will not be enough against a fighter of the caliber of Boots. He’s facing an outstanding fighter who poses a challenge for anyone. Jaron is incredibly skillful, having the flexibility to box in each the orthodox and southpaw stances. When comparing speed, agility, elusiveness, and experience, Ennis would hold the sting in all those categories.
He also sports an 88.57 percent knockout rate, making Boots probably the most dangerous
fighter Zayas has ever faced. Ennis is a whole boxer, and he’ll exploit Xander’s weaknesses by utilizing applied pressure to create openings.
If he attacks the body, Boots will have the ability to slow Zayas down and limit his mobility. The jab shall be key for Jaron; he must land it effectively to have the ability to disrupt Xander’s rhythm and make it difficult for him.
Although he selected the fight in pursuit of greatness, it could be too soon against someone as skillful as Boots. This has been the fight Jaron has been waiting for, and now that it’s here, he’ll seek to capitalize on the chance and show the world he’s special.
Last Updated on 2026/06/27 at 6:42 PM