On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Jaron “Boots” Ennis will challenge Xander Zayas for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Super Welterweight Championships at the Barclays Center in New York.
Ennis, a Philadelphia native, enters the unified title bout as the betting favorite. Last year, Ennis dominated then-WBA Welterweight Champion Eimantas Stanionis en route to a sixth-round stoppage in front of a sold-out crowd at the legendary Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Six months after the sixth-round stoppage, he made his debut in the super welterweight division against Uisma Lima of Angola, stopping him in one round. Now, he will take the next step in his pursuit of gold and glory — fighting the youngest unified champion in men’s boxing.
“He’s a good fighter. I respect him. I feel great going into this fight. I’m about to extend my legacy in the boxing game as a two-time unified weight-division champion. What I know about him is I watched him a few times — he’s a solid fighter,” he told Uncrowned. “He does nothing that concerns me. A big deal is fighting at 154 pounds. I still feel my best is yet to come. I had a lot of energy during fight week in my last fight. I like Xander, I respect him. But I’m someone he’s never faced before.”
Zayas matches the challenger’s confidence. The Puerto Rican sensation picked up his first world title last summer, beating Jorge Garcia Perez by unanimous decision. Earlier this year, he returned home to Puerto Rico, where he beat Abass Baraou by decision and added the WBA Super Welterweight Championship to his trophy case. At the moment, he’s not looking for something to add to his trophy case, but rather to prove that he’s the best fighter in the 154-pound division.
“Now, as the unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the sport’s biggest names,” Zayas said. “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!”
