WBO/WBA junior middleweight champ Xander Zayas will make his next defense in a battle of unbeatens against former unified welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis on June 27th in New York.
Monday afternoon it was confirmed that Xander Zayas will defend his WBO/WBA junior middleweight titles against top contender, Jaron “Boots” Ennis, on Saturday, June 27, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
The event will be a DAZN PPV and is promoted by Matchroom Boxing inconjunction with Top Rank Boxing pitting two unbeaten stars against each other.
Zayas, 23-0, 13 KOs, was last in action in January in San Juan, Puerto Rico, edging the then WBA title holder, Abass Baraou, by split decision to become the sport’s youngest unified champion and the first Puerto Rican to achieve that feat at 154 lb.
The 23-year-old now eturns to New York for his ninth appearance, nearly one year after capturing his first world title with a dominant win over Jorge Garcia Perez to win the WBO belt at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
Meanwhile, Ennis, 35-0, 31 KOs, is regarded as one of the top fighters in the sport and aims to become a unified champion in a second division. The Philadelphia native unified the world welterweight titles in April by stopping Eimantas Stanionis. He then moved up and demolished Uisma Lima in one round to claim the interim WBA title at 154 lb.
"Long before I became a World champion,” said Zayas. “I always sought to face the biggest challenges in my division I have never shied away from a fight and have always been willing to test my skills against anyone. “Now, as the unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the sport's biggest names. I have always believed in myself, and on June 27, I will continue to show the world what is possible when you dare to be great!"
“Time to step and collect these belts!” said Ennis. “Knocking them down one by one! #AndTheNew.”
The intrigue is growing at junior middleweight with Ennis moving up to challenge Zayas, and also Saturday night's latest defense of the WBC crown by Sebastian Fundora. He pummeled Keith Thurman in an easy 6th round TKO in Las Veags to retain and establish himself as the best fighter in the division.
Another massive unification bout could be on the horizon for the winner of Zayas-Ennis.
“Zayas vs. Boots is everything fans want in a summer blockbuster — two elite level champions, fighting for multiple world titles, staged in an iconic backdrop, New York,” said Alfie Sharman, VP of DAZN. “This matchup is a statement moment for global boxing, and we’re thrilled to deliver it live and exclusive on DAZN. June 27 will be a night where the best fight the best, and fans around the world won’t want to miss it.”
“What a fight!” said Ennis’ promoter and Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn. “I’m thrilled to be able to get this fight made for Jaron – this is exactly the kind of occasion that brings the very best out of a future pound-for-pound #1. Boots shone so brightly against Stanionis in Atlantic City in his first unification fight, and I expect him to light up Brooklyn on June 27. “But Xander is a special fighter in his own right, and huge props go to him for wanting to fight the very best – Brooklyn has a special fight on it’s hands this summer, and I am counting down the days already.”
“We signed Xander at 16 and have seen him develop into the sport’s youngest current unified champion and a budding superstar,” said Zayas’ promoter and President of Top Rank, Todd duBoef. “Facing the best has always been Xander’s priority, and ‘Boots’ Ennis provides Xander with the next step to prove greatness in only his second title defense. “The matchup pits boxing's elite young talent who want to emerge as a pound-for-pound king and entertain the sports world. We’re proud to work alongside Matchroom and DAZN to bring this meaningful fight to a global audience from Barclays Center on June 27.”