“Long before I became a World champion,” Zayas said. “I always sought to face the biggest challenges in my division I have never shied away from a fight and have always been willing to test my skills against anyone.
“Now, as the unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the sport’s biggest names. 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!”
Ennis (35-0 31 KOs) is explosive, sharp with his counters, and dangerous up the middle with the cross and uppercuts. At welterweight he broke fighters down with timing and punch selection, and his debut at 154 showed the same intent.
“Time to step and collect these belts!” Ennis said. “Knocking them down one by one! #AndTheNew.”
He does his best work when he draws a lead, then answers with speed. The straight right lands clean, the uppercut comes underneath, and once he has you reacting, the combinations follow.
Zayas cannot give him that. He has to keep the jab active, control the distance, and step in behind it without reaching. If he keeps his base under him and works the body early, he can slow Ennis and take away some of that snap.
Ennis will look to disrupt that structure. He will feint, force reactions, and fire back with counters when Zayas commits. If he finds the timing, he can check the chin and change the fight in a sequence.
“Facing the best has always been Xander’s priority, and ‘Boots’ Ennis provides Xander with the next step to prove greatness,” said Top Rank president Todd duBoef.
“This is exactly the kind of occasion that brings the very best out of a future pound-for-pound #1. Boots shone so brightly against Stanionis in Atlantic City in his first unification fight, and I expect him to light up Brooklyn on June 27,” Eddie Hearn said.
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