Most observers have viewed unified junior middleweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis as the clear favorite heading into his June 27 showdown with Xander Zayas.
But at least one analyst is starting to see the fight differently.
“I’m maybe just starting to buy into this idea that Zayas may have a better chance than most people are giving him,” said Chris Mannix on DAZN’s Beyond The Bell.
Mannix also revealed that confidence inside Zayas’ camp is growing as the fight draws closer.
“When I talk to people within his camp, they say he’s having the best camp that he’s ever had, that he’s as motivated as he ever was. He hears all the doubters. He sees all the social media activity,” said Chris.
Former world champion Sergio Mora agreed that Zayas brings unique challenges into the matchup, pointing to his size advantage over Ennis.
“He’s a naturally bigger fighter. He’s going to be pressing Boots back. We’ve seen Boots get hit,” said Mora. “Can he take the punches from a bigger fighter like Xander Zayas, who’s just full of confidence?”
Zayas enters the fight as a career-long junior middleweight, while Ennis is preparing for only his second appearance at 154 pounds after moving up from welterweight earlier this year. Although Ennis remains the betting favorite, the matchup has become one of the most anticipated fights of the summer.
The winner will leave Brooklyn with Ennis’ unified WBA and WBC junior middleweight titles and take a major step toward becoming the division’s leading attraction.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/22 at 3:53 AM
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