Boots – Xander
Credit: DAZN
Jaron “Boots” Ennis improved to 36-0 and won the WBA and WBO super welterweight championship when he scored a seventh-round TKO victory Xander Zayas (23-1). The match was competitive even though Ennis put in an impressive performance.
The victory allowed Ennis to win titles in his second weight class. There were some tense moments for Ennis as Zagias came through like a lion in the third.
Key facts at a glance
- Main event: Jaron “Boots” Ennis def. Xander Zayas via seventh-round TKO (corner stoppage)
- Record: Ennis improves to 36-0 (32 KOs). Zagias falls to 23-1 (13 KOs)
- Titles: Unified WBO and WBA super welterweight championships (154 pounds)
- Knockdowns: Ennis dropped Zayas in the first, fifth and seventh rounds
- Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York (DAZN pay-per-view)
- Referee: Harvey Dock, who stopped it at 1:47 of the seventh
How did Jaron Ennis beat Xander Zayas?
Ennis dropped Zayas in the first round as his speed and power overwhelmed the young Puerto Rican in the first frame.
Zayas got out of the round, rallied and came back in the third to hurt Ennis badly. A one-two combination had rattled Ennis. Zayas tried to get to the finish, but Ennis had enough to survive and keep his opponent at bay.
Things were looking great for Zayas until the fourth as he seemed to gain momentum. However, Boots returned to his square in the fifth and dropped Zayas with a crazy right uppercut square to the chin. Zagias did not manage to get to his feet until the count of nine.
He survived the round and did well enough in the sixth to push things into the seventh. However, another barrage of punches on the ropes brought Zayas to his knees and his corner stopped the match.
The pay-per-view undercard also delivered, headlined by a dominant fourth-round stoppage from rising star Emiliano Vargas over Bryce Mills.
Why did Xander Zayas’ corner stop the fight?
It was a wise decision. Zagias is 23 years old and has his entire career ahead of him. By the time he was in the seventh frame, Zayas was in a fight he couldn’t win anymore.
It was one of the most appropriate corner stops I’ve seen in the sport in a long time, all things considered.
Zayas will likely move up to 160 pounds as the weight cut to get to 154 has been taxed. He is a naturally large young man who is still growing into his body. It will be interesting to see what he does next.
What’s next for Jaron Ennis?
As for Ennis, he shined on the biggest stage. Headlining a pay-per-view card on DAZN in Brooklyn, Ennis showed that he is among the elite talents and performers in boxing. Now he is ready to try and unify the titles by chasing IBF champion josh kelly or WBC holder of the title Sebastian Fundora.
Promoter Eddie Hearn went even further, telling DAZN that Ennis looks like the future pound-for-pound No. 1 in the sport. With Fundora holding the WBC belt and Kelly the IBF, a run at undisputed status at 154 pounds is the obvious next chapter.
