Xander Zayas says he has heard the questions about his age, his experience and his power. He expects Jaron “Boots” Ennis to hear his answer at Barclays Center.
The undefeated unified junior middleweight champion spoke with TMZ Sports before his June 27 fight with Ennis in Brooklyn, where Zayas will defend his WBO and WBA world titles in one of boxing’s biggest undefeated matchups of the summer.
Zayas enters the fight at 23-0 with 13 knockouts. Ennis, the former unified welterweight champion, is 35-0 with 31 knockouts and is moving deeper into the 154-pound title picture.
For Zayas, the fight is a chance to do more than keep two belts. He told TMZ Sports that beating Ennis would prove he is the best junior middleweight in the world.
Zayas Said the Fight Carries Extra Weight
Zayas said every fight matters to him, but this one feels different because of what both fighters bring into the ring. He described the matchup as two hungry, undefeated fighters chasing legacy at a point when the division can shift quickly.
The records give the fight a clean selling point before the opening bell: two unbeaten fighters, two 154-pound titles and one Brooklyn main event. Barclays Center lists Zayas as defending his WBO and WBA world junior middleweight titles against Ennis on Saturday, June 27.
Top Rank says Zayas unified the titles in January in Puerto Rico by split decision over Abass Baraou, becoming the youngest unified ruler in the sport and the first Puerto Rican fighter to unify at 154 pounds.
He Is Embracing the Underdog Role
Despite holding the belts, Zayas is being viewed by many as the underdog against Ennis. TMZ Sports noted that he has heard the criticism that he is too young, lacks experience and does not have enough power for a fighter like Boots.
Zayas said doubt has followed him throughout his career. He told TMZ Sports that he has often faced older and more experienced opponents, and he expects June 27 to answer the same questions again.
Ennis brings a much heavier knockout percentage into the matchup. Top Rank lists both fighters at 5-foot-10 with 74-inch reaches, but Ennis has stopped 31 of his 35 opponents, while Zayas has 13 knockouts in 23 wins.
Ennis Is Chasing Belts at 154
View this post on Instagram
Ennis built his name at welterweight before moving into the junior middleweight title picture. Matchroom announced the fight as a DAZN pay-per-view event promoted with Top Rank, with Zayas’ WBO and WBA belts on the line.
The Matchroom post in the embed promotes the same June 27 fight, so it fits this section as a fight-week visual rather than as a source for Zayas’ TMZ interview. Keep the interview claims tied to TMZ Sports and the event details tied to Matchroom, Top Rank, DAZN or Barclays Center.
Ennis has spoken confidently about taking the titles back to Philadelphia, while Zayas has framed the fight as the night he proves he belongs at the top of the division. The contrast gives the main event its hook: Zayas has the belts, and Ennis has the reputation of a dangerous unbeaten challenger moving up for bigger prizes.
The Brooklyn Card Streams on DAZN PPV
The fight is set for Barclays Center in Brooklyn and will stream live on DAZN pay-per-view. Matchroom’s event page lists the main event as Zayas vs. Ennis for the WBO and WBA world super welterweight titles.
The undercard includes Emiliano Vargas vs. Bryce Mills at super lightweight, Ben Whittaker vs. Richard Rivera at light heavyweight, Jahi Tucker vs. Euri Cedeno at middleweight, and Juan Manuel Lopez Jr. vs. Alberto Motos.
Zayas told TMZ Sports that after June 27, he wants there to be no doubt that he is the top fighter at 154 pounds. Ennis is trying to leave Brooklyn with two belts in a new division. One result could reorder the junior middleweight conversation before the summer is over.