Jaron “Boots” Ennis is promising a dominant display of superiority when he challenges unified junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas on June 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Speaking to Matchroom Boxing ahead of the high-stakes encounter, Jaron Ennis dismissed any suggestion that the fight would be closely contested, stating simply that there are “levels” between him and the 23-year-old titleholder.
The Philadelphia native, who boasts an undefeated record of 35-0 with 31 knockouts, is looking to become a two-weight unified champion. He already established his presence in the 154-pound division last October, when he stopped Uisma Lima in the first round of his super welterweight debut at the Wells Fargo Center.
Jaron Ennis asserts dominance ahead of Brooklyn title clash
Now, he aims to strip Xander Zayas of the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles in a main event broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.
Confidence is high in the Ennis camp as the June 27 showdown approaches. Jaron Ennis, who will turn 29 the day before the fight, believes the jump to 154 pounds has suited his physique and performance. “I feel great this weight,” Jaron Ennis told Matchroom Boxing.
“I’m more comfortable and I do what I want on June 27. Whatever he thinks he does well, I do better.”
Key details
The former unified welterweight champion specifically targeted Xander Zayas’ technical skills, claiming they do not match his own. “You cannot jab better than me. You are not faster than me. You are not slicker than me. You are not stronger than me,” Jaron Ennis said.
He emphasized his intention to “shut everybody up” and bring both championship belts back home to Philadelphia with a knockout victory.
For Ennis, this bout represents a chance to prove he is the premier talent in the sport across multiple weight classes. While some competitors, such as Shakur Stevenson have focused on their current divisions rather than moving up, Ennis has aggressively pursued titles in a second weight class within a year of leaving the welterweight ranks.
Xander Zayas prepares for second WBO title defense
Xander Zayas arrives at the Barclays Center as a unified champion with a record of 23-0 and 13 knockouts. The Puerto Rican star entered the history books in January 2026 by defeating Abass Baraou in San Juan to unify the WBA and WBO titles.
At 23 years old, Zayas is currently making his second defense of the WBO belt and the first defense of his unified status against the most statistically dangerous opponent of his career.
While the Puerto Rican technician has displayed exceptional discipline in recent outings, he has only secured one stoppage in his last five fights—a ninth-round TKO of Slawa Spomer in February 2025.
In contrast, Ennis maintains an 89% knockout ratio and has stopped three of his last five opponents, including a sixth-round unification victory over Eimantas Stanionis in April 2025. In that contest, Ennis unified the IBF, WBA (Super), and Ring magazine welterweight titles.
Key details
This event, co-promoted by Matchroom and Top Rank, will be a significant barometer for the 154-pound division. If Jaron Ennis is as successful as he predicts, he will solidify his ranking as the #1 contender currently recognized by both the WBA and WBO.
Earlier this year, reports circulated about other fighters in the division facing setbacks, including an Arturo Cárdenas victory in the lower weight classes that showcased the depth of modern cards, but the Ennis-Zayas bout remains the division’s focal point.
Championship history and the path to 154 pounds
The journey to this unified title fight saw Jaron Ennis vacate a position of power in the welterweight category. His win over Eimantas Stanionis in April 2025 was a pivotal moment, but it was his move to super welterweight in October 2025 that set the stage for this Saturday.
By stopping Uisma Lima in just one round for the WBA interim title, Ennis signaled that his power remained potent at the higher weight limit.
Xander Zayas has taken a more methodical path to the top. Before unifying against Abass Baraou, Zayas picked up the vacant WBO world junior middleweight title in July 2025 with a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Garcia Perez. He has also recorded wins over Patrick Teixeira and Damian Sosa at the Madison Square Garden Theater, proving his ability to perform on major East Coast stages.
Barclays Center card features Whittaker and Vargas
The DAZN pay-per-view broadcast is scheduled to begin its main card at 8:00 PM ET, with the main event ringwalks for Zayas and Ennis expected around 10:47 PM ET. The venue choice of the Barclays Center places the fight in a neutral territory for the Philadelphia-born Ennis and the Puerto Rican Zayas, though both have previously fought in the Northeast region of the United States.
The undercard provides a mix of international prospects and established names across several weight classes. The following bouts are confirmed for the June 27 event:
- Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Bryce Mills: A 10-round super lightweight contest.
- Ben Whittaker vs. Richard Rivera: A 10-round light heavyweight clash.
- Jahi Tucker vs. Euri Cendeno: A 10-round middleweight bout.
- Juanmita Lopez De Jesus: Opponent TBA.
As the boxing world monitors these results, many look toward the future of the heavier divisions. Recent discussions have focused on potential dates for a Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua bout, but for now, the immediate focus remains on whether Ennis can fulfill his promise of “levels” and take over the 154-pound division on Saturday night.
