The Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis unified title fight Brooklyn bout got confirmed recently and it is a good one.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has some relatively impressive wins in recent years in the sport and according to some, he might be a top 10 pound for pound contender now already in boxing.
Certainly he is up there around that list as one of the current champions.
Welterweight is stacked at the moment and despite Ennis’ efforts he is not known at all to the general sports fans or general public in America or worldwide yet outside of hardcore boxing fans.
His upcoming opponent Xander Zayas is the same but much more so, a very dangerous fighter and a man who presents real problems for anyone in and around 147 pounds or so.
The styles match up well but maybe Zayas is a slightly better technical boxer and maybe something that ‘Boots’ Ennis is something should be aware of and not underestimating.
He has nothing to lose as well in terms of his being an underdog against Ennis for some surely, even if slightly to others, so will go on all guns blazing to run over Ennis and bust him up.
This is really great matchmaking though and a great fight for boxing, indicative of the times we are in as a sport now with this standard and caliber of fights the now demanded by boxing fans expected norm from here on in.
In terms of accepting nothing more than the best boxers facing the other best boxers on a regular basis.
That standard has been set and met now and will not change moving forward.
That’s why the heavyweight champion Usyk during this great time for boxing taking a title defense against a kickboxer next month is so strange, given the overall standard of fights happening.
Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis represents the high standard of fights that boxing fans, new and old, have now come to expect in 2026 and beyond.
The fact it is happening in Brooklyn is big as well with New York, although on fire as a place at the moment and unfortunately some calling it the ‘crappy apple’ until it is made great again (which it will be in the future), still is a good thing for New York and boxing.
It is still home to many great fights in boxing history and the fact another good boxing match has been brought to NYC is a good thing for the city and the sport.
Roll on.
