Jaron Ennis vs. Xander Zayas | DAZN - June 27, 2026

[Evander]

That's what I'm talking about ^

[Les Norton]

At the end of the day, who has Ennis beaten?
Never went near Crawford or Spence.
And if he wins, and I think he does, against Zayas, he hardly killed a lion.
He needs a big name victory sometime soon

[handsofstone]

Boxing at its best this one

[MightyWarrior]

Nice fight between two good prospects here. Boots obviously showing much better levels than his fellow rising star. No real world title on offer here, despite the promotion hype. But feels like they’re throwing the Puerto Rican in too early here -.why is that? Maybe because his backers are overconfident, or does he not pull the crowds in?

Timing is surprising, but I’m not complaining. Makes a change to see two equally confident young guns, taking some risks

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘I’m just not impressed’: Richard Rivera believes Ben Whittaker uses jokes to hide fear

Richard Rivera says he’s “not impressed” with what he’s seen of Ben Whittaker

Richard Rivera will get a chance to knock off heavily-hyped light heavyweight Ben Whittaker this Saturday night, as the two will meet in an undercard bout on the Zayas vs Boots card in Brooklyn.

The fight is the first on American soil for the 29-year-old Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KO), who just fought on April 18 and scored a first round knockout win over Braian Suarez.

Whittaker, an Olympic silver medalist, has become just as well-known for his joke-y sort of personality and his aggressive displays of “charisma” as his fighting, and the veteran Rivera (27-2, 20 KO) sees that as a “mask” that hides Whittaker’s “real fear.”

“I’m not too thrown off by his antics. I don’t think that those moves, those antics, come from bravery,” Rivera says in a video posted to social media.

“I think it’s a mask to hide his real fear. I’m just not impressed. A guy that disguises his flaws with these jokes. When it comes down to fight night, we’re gonna see how far them antics take him. The world is going to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe it! The biggest upset!’ When I knew all along.”

RelatedXander Zayas vs Boots Ennis prediction: Who will win and how
It’s probably worth mentioning that yes, Rivera does an entire “Popeye the Sailor Man” get-up, so a question of “antics” may reasonably go both ways here.

That doesn’t mean he’s not tough, though, nor does a resume that looks thin on paper. The 35-year-old Rivera has been around for years but really hasn’t had the chance to break out as a serious player at 175 or cruiserweight, which can happen if you are actually tough and just don’t have the right career backing.

His biggest fight came in 2022 when he faced Badou Jack, and Rivera did give Jack a real fight that night, losing a 10-round split decision. He has long held the belief that he’s simply been avoided by the biggest names around him, including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.

“Everybody knows Bivol is scared, everybody knows Beterbiev is scared,” he says. “They love calling me for sparring but they wouldn’t call me for a real fight. When it comes down to it, I think David Benavidez is the only worthy adversary.”

Rivera’s other loss was on the road in the Dominican Republic in 2024, against Luis Antonio Tejeda. Rivera lost an eight-round majority decision in a fight that was scored by three Dominican judges, which is not an accusation but, like, you know; boxing is the way it is. He’s won two in a row coming into Saturday’s fight with Whittaker.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Roy Jones: Zayas-Ennis winner can dominate 154 pounds

The bout between Xander Zayas and Jaron Ennis has tremendous stakes in the junior middleweight division.

Zayas owns the WBA and WBO 154-pound crowns, while Ennis, a former Ring and unified welterweight champion, is ready to make his mark in a new division.

The winner can even make a strong case to crack the pound-for-pound list as well, and the drama will unfold Saturday at Barclays Center in New York, as part of a DAZN Pay-Per-View/DAZN Ultimate main event.

Roy Jones Jr. delivered many memorable nights during his Hall of Fame career, and he believes the clash between Zayas and Ennis has all the ingredients to be a doozy.

“It’s going to be a barnburner between two unbeaten guys,” Jones told The Ring. “I am very excited for this fight. This fight is going to tell us who we think is technically the best guy in the junior middleweight division.”

Zayas is ranked No. 3 by The Ring at 154 pounds, Ennis is No. 5.

The other titleholders in the weight class include WBC champion Sebastian Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) and IBF titlist Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs); The Ring title is vacant. Vergil Ortiz is considered the uncrowned king of the division, however, as he’s ranked No. 1 by The Ring after solid wins against Israil Madrimov, Erickson Lubin and Serhii Bohachuk.

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) hasn’t had much time to make his mark at 154 pounds, as he showed up for less than a round of work in October to stop Uisma Lima.

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs), meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back, title-winning performances in a six-month span against Jorge Garcia Perez and Abass Baraou.

“Ennis has all of the intangibles and he's definitely the best, intangibles-wise, in the division,” Jones said. “Some of the things that Boots does resemble me, but I didn't switch hit as much as he does, so he's different — he's Boots. Ennis did take a little bit from my book, which is smart. But at the same time, he's still himself and he tries to make sure you know that he's himself, and he's not trying to copy anybody. Ennis is just trying to be the best that he can be. I love that about Boots.

“I think Boots has everything necessary to dominate the division. Zayas has shown he has everything necessary to dominate the division, too. He already has two titles. Both of these guys have everything necessary to dominate the division. But so does Fundora, and that's what makes everything so interesting.”

[MightyWarrior]

Okay, reading that I’m reminded they both hold, laughably, multiple world titles; reason being no win really registered much as either beating a legitimate world champion ( going from an admittedly sketchy memory ) But this fight I guess is worthy of vacant world title status.

So is Carnival Showman Ben Whitaker in with a legitimate test? Surely not. Because when that happens, I think his goose is cooked.

[MPW]

Zayas is currently a unified champion at SWW, while Ennis was a unified titlist at WW. Both of them defeated solid fighters - not great and certainly not elite - to win the belts. The winner of this fight takes the next step up in status and arguably can claim to be the top SWW in the world, ahead of Fundora and Ortiz Jr.

[2470020]

Exceptional match-up. Favour 'Boots' who can go onto Great things.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zayas: It's OK if Ennis thinks it’ll be easy

Xander Zayas is an undefeated, unified champion who is just approaching his physical prime.

He is also a decided underdog, and not just according to handicappers, entering his 154-pound title fight against Jaron Ennis on Saturday night at Barclays Center. The confident Puerto Rican exuded a quiet confidence during their final press conference Thursday, yet he also issued a message to Ennis and anyone else underestimating his chances of retaining his WBA and WBO belts.

“I feel like he thinks it’s gonna be an easy night,” Zayas told DAZN’s Chris Mannix, who moderated the press conference at Barclays. “And let him think it. Saturday night, I will come out there, and I will do what I do at the highest level, like I always do. I will make the adjustments, like I always make 'em, and I will come out victorious. That’s all that matters to me.”

DraftKings lists Ennis as a 5-1 favorite even though he is the challenger and has boxed less than one round in the junior middleweight division. The former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champ from Philadelphia spoke Thursday as if the odds should be even wider and referred to Zayas as “easy work,” a phrase Floyd Mayweather popularized during his heyday.

“He a solid fighter,” Ennis said. “He a champion for a reason, but it’s just levels. And I’m gonna show [it] come Saturday night and show my skills and my ability. I cannot wait. I’m trying to tell y’all. I cannot wait.”

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) and his father/trainer, Derek “Bozy” Ennis, predicted he’ll knock out Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs), whose durability and technical skill are among his best assets.

“I like Xander,” Bozy Ennis said. “I always liked Xander’s style. I like the way he box. I like the way he fight. Xander, he have a lotta heart. Any time you’re taking a fight with Boots, and don’t care … with who he is and [everything] like that, I respect him for that. Boots is on another level.”

Zayas is nevertheless ranked No. 3 among The Ring’s junior middleweight contenders for a vacant title, two spots atop Ennis.

Subscribers to DAZN’s Ultimate plan, which costs $49.99 monthly in the United States and £24.99 in the United Kingdom, have access to the Zayas-Ennis card for no additional charge. The main portion of the event, set to begin at 8 p.m. ET and 1 a.m. BST, will be offered via DAZN Pay-Per-View to non-subscribers for $74.99 in the U.S. and £24.99 in the UK.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Xander Zayas vs Jaron 'Boots' Ennis weigh-in results:

Xander Zayas - 153.8 lbs
Jaron 'Boots' Ennis - 153 lbs

[goose 5]

I like Ennis to win by stoppage. I expect him to shine.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BOOTS-ZAYAS GATE BIGGER THAN HANEY-GARCIA

Eddie Hearn has said that the gate for Jaron "Boots" Ennis Xander Zayas at the Barclays Center in New York tomorrow is bigger than the $4,356,065 gate for Ryan Garcia Devin Haney at the same venue in April 2024.

[Taansend]

At the end of the day, who has Ennis beaten?
Never went near Crawford or Spence.
And if he wins, and I think he does, against Zayas, he hardly killed a lion.
He needs a big name victory sometime soon

This would be his first big name victory.

Then fights with Ortiz, Fundora & Madrimov will show us where he's at.

He should avoid Kelly though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zayas will likely move up in weight in the near future and that he walks around in the 180lbs range between fights

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boots Ennis forced to trim beard ahead of Xander Zayas fight

Boots Ennis had to trim a bit of his beard ahead of tomorrow’s big fight

Jaron “Boots” Ennis was forced to trim a bit of his beard length ahead of Saturday night’s fight with Xander Zayas.

DAZN’s Chris Mannix said the issue came up this morning, with Zayas’ team “requesting” the beard trim. Ennis, in Mannix’s words, with a smirk, “politely declined.”

But the New York commission did rule that Ennis had to trim the beard a bit, which is not that unusual. Some commissions will let things go, some have their limits, and sometimes it never comes up because neither team really cares.

Ennis (35-0, 31 KO) and Zayas (23-0, 13 KO) both made weight today, with Ennis coming in at 153 lbs and Zayas at 153¾ lbs, both below the limit of 154.

If nothing else, it can be a bit of a psychological move for a team to request the opponent trim the beard. Even if it doesn’t really matter to either side, it’s a request, or even a demand. Just a little mental chess move if nothing else.

But either way, Ennis will have slightly less beard on Saturday night.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Date: Saturday June 27, 2026
Location: Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY
TV/Stream: DAZN

Start Times
YouTube: 6 pm ET | 3 pm PT | 11 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
DAZN: 8 pm ET | 5 pm PT | 1 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Matchroom Boxing & Top Rank Inc.

Main Card

Unified WBA & WBO Super Welterweight Championship
Xander Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jaron Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs)

NABF, WBC USA Silver & WBO Latino Super Lightweight Championship
Emiliano Vargas (17-0, 14 KOs) vs. Bryce Mills (22-1, 9 KOs)

WBC ‘Silver’ Light Heavyweight Championship
Ben Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KOs) vs. Richard Rivera (27-2, 20 KOs)

Vacant IBF North American, WBC USA & WBO NABO Middleweight Championship
Jahi Tucker (16-1-1, 7 KOs) vs. Euri Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KOs)

Preliminary Card

8 Round Welterweight Bout
Quincey Williams (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Jerome Baxter (8-1, 3 KOs)

8 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Dennis Thompson (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Edwin Rodriguez (12-11-3, 5 KOs)

6 Round Super Flyweight Bout
Juanma Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs) vs. Alberto Motos (6-2)

[Taansend]

Seriously I have never really rated Zayas.

I just think he's part of the East Coast Boxing Medias desperate for the next great Puerto Rican fighter.

I think Boots is a better boxer & puncher than him & I would probably rate him in the 6-10 range at 154.

But I am really impressed that he's gone straight for unifications & also then taken this fight.

He could have just chilled in a few easy defences in New York but he's going all in.

He's earnt my respect. I still think Boots stops him (6-9) but I am hoping he goes the distance in a war now. I love his attitude.

[victor-romeo]

I am a little hyped up now but I think this was most exciting fight I have seen since Fury vs Wilder III

[Cent0089]

Perfect performance by Ennis. Ennis vs Ortiz, just bring it on. 3 years of waiting is enough

[Bigdogsnose]

At the end of the day, who has Ennis beaten?
Never went near Crawford or Spence.
And if he wins, and I think he does, against Zayas, he hardly killed a lion.
He needs a big name victory sometime soon

He has beaten everyone who steps in a ring with him. Thats the hard bit. Crawford chose not to fight boots. He had every right, not a duck, but that fight not happening is not on boots.

[Bigdogsnose]

I had boots in rd11. Expected zayas to win some early rounds, didnt think for one minute it woukd catch fire the way it did. Thought boots looked smaller than Zayas, only concern i have for him at these weights. Skill wise, next level.

[MightyWarrior]

He’s a fantastic fighter boots, and he looked untouchable there for the first few rounds, but then we found out he does after all have a weakness: his beard, he clearly shouldn’t have shaved it off, because it looks like he doesn’t take an elite level punch: the brave Puerto Rican, not being known as a hitter, had him on very shaky legs there…he came back in superstar style though.. who’s next ?

[keithmoonhangover]

What a fight.