Devin Haney immediately went on the attack after Jaron “Boots” Ennis stopped Xander Zayas on Saturday night, focusing entirely on what he perceived as a lack of heart. The moment trainer Javiel Centeno waved off the seventh-round contest following a heavy knockdown, Haney took to social media to label the former WBA and WBO junior middleweight champion a quitter.
“Xander quit. We’re not the same,” Haney posted on X, instantly igniting a massive debate across the boxing world.
For Haney, the corner stoppage was not a mercy intervention, but proof of a fundamental difference in fighter mentality. He used the defeat to draw a line between himself and Zayas, telling fans that he would never allow his team to pull him out of a fight when things got tough.
While Zayas had early success with his jab, Ennis completely took over the middle rounds with heavy combinations before scoring the decisive seventh-round knockdown. The brutal nature of the beating forced Centeno to step in, but Haney clearly believes a true champion goes out on their shield rather than letting the corner make the choice for them.
Instead of the focus staying on Ennis winning the titles, Haney ensured that the conversation centered on the definition of a fighter’s grit. His harsh critique has turned the corner stoppage into the most controversial talking point of the entire event.
Ennis’ performance also strengthened his standing at 154 pounds as he added two world titles with the dominant seventh-round stoppage.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/28 at 2:58 PM
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