Jaron admitted at the post-fight press conference he was at times not as effective offensively as he needed to be, choosing not to listen to his corner by using his jab and speed but instead electing to throw single power shots that led to that eventful third round.
Xander connected flush on two separate right hands, which appeared to have significantly phased Boots. Zayas outlanded Ennis in that round, 28 to 19, resulting in the most exciting round of the fight. This moment led Vergil Ortiz to post on X, “Yeah, I’m sleeping Jaron.”
Although Ennis may have been hurt, he continued exchanging. There’s been a moment in every great fighter’s career where they’re tested by a punch that stuns them or drops them, but they make an adjustment and win the fight. This was Boots’ moment. Terence Crawford had it against Yuriorkis Gamboa, Floyd Mayweather against Shane Mosley, and Andre Ward against Sergey Kovalev. All those fighters overcame their challenging moment and won the fight; Jaron did the same. He will be better going forward and knows he needs to be better in the future.
He stated at the post-fight presser that he now has things he needs to work on in the lab.
Yea I’m sleeping Jaron
— Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz) June 28, 2026
With the win, Boots ascended in the divisional rankings. The Ring now ranks Ennis as the top junior middleweight, ranking him number one in the division and ninth overall in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Jaron is the only multi-belt holder in the junior middleweight division and
unlike the other champions, is undefeated. Ortiz was previously ranked number one but drops to number two after Saturday’s results.
When asked by the media about Ortiz’s comments about sleeping him, Jaron responded with a question, “Why didn’t he [Vergil] take the fight in the beginning?” Meaning, why didn’t he take the fight that was offered to him?
Eddie Hearn told the media at the presser that he was already getting calls from Luis De Cubas Jr. about making a potential fight between Boots and Sebastian Fundora, the WBC junior middleweight champion. However, conflicting reports are coming in, as Boxing Scene reported today that Fundora’s manager, Sampson Lewkowicsz, has said Sebastian is to fight his mandatory, number-one contender, Ermal Hadribeaj.
Boots made it known at the presser that his number one goal is to become undisputed champion. He aims to target the other divisional champions. If he keeps in line with this statement, the next viable option would be IBF junior middleweight champion Josh Kelly. As long as both parties can agree on terms, it would be a relatively easy fight to make as both fighters are promoted by Matchroom.
Hearn told the media that Zayas has a rematch clause; if he does exercise that right, he would get an immediate rematch. It appears, though, that Xander may consider his options and choose to go up to 160 pounds to challenge for a title there. Becoming a unified champion has given Boots more leverage in future matches, as he is now one of the top draws in the division.
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