Ennis Guarantees KO of Zayas: 'Bit Off Way More Than He Can Chew'

Undefeated welterweight contender Jaron 'Boots' Ennis vows to stop unified 154-pound champion Xander Zayas in their upcoming title fight.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:00am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting the intense action and physicality of a boxing match, with the fighters' bodies and movements broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the raw energy and competitive spirit of the upcoming title fight.Two of boxing's brightest young stars collide as undefeated contender Jaron 'Boots' Ennis challenges unified 154-pound champion Xander Zayas in a high-stakes title fight.Brooklyn Today

Jaron 'Boots' Ennis has guaranteed that he will knock out unified 154-pound champion Xander Zayas when they meet on June 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Ennis, a former welterweight champion moving up to junior middleweight, believes Zayas has 'bit off way more than he can chew' and that he will prove he is the best fighter in the world at 154 pounds.

Why it matters

This highly anticipated matchup between two of the top young stars in boxing's junior middleweight division will have major implications for the future of the 154-pound weight class. Ennis is looking to make a statement by dethroning the undefeated Zayas, who has collected world titles in his last two fights, and establish himself as the premier fighter in the division.

The details

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs, 1 NC) and Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) met at a press conference on Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to promote their June 27 fight at the same venue. Ennis acknowledged that Zayas is a 'great fighter' but believes the 23-year-old champion from Puerto Rico has 'bit off way more than he can chew' by taking this fight. Ennis feels he is 'stronger than you think, faster than you think' and that Zayas and his team will not be able to devise a winning game plan against him.

  • The Ennis vs. Zayas fight will take place on June 27, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
  • The pre-fight press conference was held on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Jaron 'Boots' Ennis

An undefeated welterweight contender who is moving up to the junior middleweight division to challenge unified 154-pound champion Xander Zayas. Ennis is a former welterweight champion who believes he is the best fighter in the world at 154 pounds.

Xander Zayas

The undefeated unified 154-pound world champion from Puerto Rico. The 23-year-old Zayas is the Ring Magazine's No. 3-ranked junior middleweight and has collected world titles in his last two fights.

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What they’re saying

“'He's a great fighter, but there's levels. I'm not those guys he fought. He bit off way more than he can chew. I'm a show people that I'm the best in the world. I'm stronger than you think, faster than you think. He's in for a long night. I'm taking those belts. I'm the best at 154.'”

— Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, Boxer

“'It don't matter what he do, he can run, he can jive, he's going out. I'm not gonna miss. I just want you to be ready, and I don't think he's going to be ready for what's about to happen.'”

— Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, Boxer

What’s next

The winner of the Ennis vs. Zayas fight will likely be in line for a lucrative title unification bout against the other top champions in the 154-pound division.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of boxing's brightest young stars at junior middleweight has the potential to be a career-defining fight for both Ennis and Zayas. Ennis' bold guarantee of a knockout victory over the undefeated champion sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with major implications for the future of the 154-pound weight class.