Jaron “Boots” Ennis has spent years being mentioned alongside the sport’s elite, but DAZN commentator Todd Grisham believes the June 27 showdown with Xander Zayas is the fight that will determine whether he truly belongs in the same conversation as Terence Crawford.
The unbeaten Ennis will move up to junior middleweight to challenge unified WBO and WBA champion Xander Zayas at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in one of the most anticipated fights of 2026. While both fighters enter undefeated, Grisham sees the bout as a defining moment for Ennis’ standing in the sport.
“As great as Boots Ennis is, I still don’t think he’s getting the respect from a lot of hardcore boxing fans,” said Grisham to DAZN Boxing. “This feels like the moment for Boots. Not only do I think he has to win this fight, I think he needs to dominate and separate himself from Xander Zayas and say, ‘Look, this guy’s not even on my level. I’m at the Terence Crawford level. That’s the level of fighter I am.’”
Ennis, 35-0, captured two welterweight titles before deciding to pursue bigger opportunities at 154 pounds. He revealed during the documentary that he specifically requested the Zayas fight after negotiations for a bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr. failed to materialize.
The fight for Zayas represents the biggest challenge of his career. The Puerto Rican star has repeatedly stated that facing elite opposition is necessary to achieve greatness, and he pushed for the matchup despite entering as the underdog in many observers’ eyes.
Grisham believes the stakes are particularly high for ‘Boots’ because expectations have followed him throughout his rise through the ranks.
“I think he’s a pound-for-pound number one in the waiting,” Grisham said. “But to do that, you need fights like this.”
The winner of the June 27 clash will leave Barclays Center as one of boxing’s premier names at junior middleweight and with a strong argument for a place near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/19 at 3:19 AM
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