Looks like a real possibility for the next fight for unified 154 lb. champ Xander Zayas of Puerto Rico will come against for unified, unbeaten welterweight king Jaron "Boots" Ennis later this Summer.
It looks like a highly anticipated junior middleweight showdown between unified champ Xander Zayas and former unified welterweight champ, Jaron "Boots" Ennis is getting close to happening.
The battle of unbeatens at 154 lb. has gained momentum for the last couple of weeks since the mess with unbeaten Vergil Ortiz with Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya has derailed the discussed fight he had on the table with Ennis.
Last week, Top Rank, who promotes Zayas also confirmed that discussions have progressed.
“Yeah, we’re talking,” Top Rank president Todd DuBoef, said to the "Ariel Helwani Show" when asked about the prospect of the bout.
“I’m not sure Puerto Rico’s the place to do it. In a perfect world, I love New York for that fight, but the availability (at Madison Square Garden) is (difficult). Xander wants the fight. We’d love to do the fight, and I know that Matchroom and DAZN would love to see ‘Boots’ get that fight.”
Boxing insider Dan Rafael reported more on Sunday night on our "Fight Freaks Unite Podcast" on the proposed Zayas-Ennis WBO/WBA world title showdown saying that it looks June is the targeted month and that New York would be the preferred location for the two Eastern based fighters.
You can hear more of Rafael's comments on Zayas potentially meeting Ennis by clicking play below,
Also, Matchroom Boxing, Ennis’ promoter, acknowledged to Rafael that they are indeed discussing the fight, which, if it is made, would ideally be in June.
Further, this proposed title bout has theoretically become a bit easier because Top Rank and DAZN have now partnered on a mutli-year broadcast deal. And, DAZN has been the exclusive home for Matchroom Boxing for years.
Zayas added another milestone to his fast-rising career with his February victory in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 23-year-old defeated fellow junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou by split decision adding the WBA title to go along with the WBO belt he claimed last summer.
With that victory, Zayas improved to 23-0 (13 KOs) and became the youngest active unified champion in boxing, as well as the first Puerto Rican fighter to unify world titles on the island. That night, while fighting in front of an energetic hometown crowd, he showcased a poised and disciplined performance, using a sharp jab, effective combinations, and smart footwork to control the action.
While, Puerto Rico is being mentioned as a possible site, it's highly unlikely that Ennis, who's a top ten pound for pound fighter right now, would willingly go to fight Zayas there.
Ennis, 35-0. 31 KOs, from Philadelphia was last in the ring in his 154 lb. debut and destroyed Uisma Lima in one round last October. He previously held the IBF and WBA welterweight championships.