The saving grace of Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis after Boots-Ortiz negotiations fell flat

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. made perfect sense as it would have pit two undefeated interim super welterweight champions of the same age against each other to possibly declare the face of the division.

And the boxing world was close to getting the fight as Ennis confronted Ortiz after the latter demolished Erickson Lubin in one round in November, neither wasting time in throwing verbal jabs. Negotiations followed, but when they fell through, ‘Boots’ had a void for his desired June target date. It was a space that an unlikely taker quickly filled — unified WBA/WBO 154-pound world champion, Xander Zayas.

All of a sudden, Ennis has more to gain than he did with Ortiz. Ennis and Zayas came face-to-face Wednesday afternoon for their launch press conference at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which will be the host of their fight on June 27, live and exclusive on DAZN PPV .

Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ Matchroom Boxing promoter, expressed shock on the dais that an unbeaten 23-year-old in Zayas would rush to take the fight and that the young champ’s promoter, Top Rank, would even allow it.

Bozy Ennis, Ennis’ dad/trainer, shared admiration for Zayas taking on the challenge, but vowed that he’s biting off more than he could chew.

Ennis (35-0 with 1 no contest, 31 KOs) insisted “there’s levels” to the sweet science and that he will prove he’s several tiers above Zayas (23-0 13 KOs), who is five years his junior with 13 fewer fights of experience than ‘Boots.’

In front of the media, a more seasoned Ennis implored Zayas to move his head off the center line, warning, “I got pinpoint accuracy — I’m not gonna miss. I’m not gonna miss.”

But when DAZN News asked the Philadelphia boxer/puncher if his impending clash with Zayas presents a stylistically better fight than Ennis vs. Ortiz, ‘Boots’ had to ponder the inquiry.

“You know what? I don’t know,” Ennis told DAZN News amidst a pool of reporters. “I think he’s a little bit better than Ortiz style-wise. But experience-wise, you gotta give it to Vergil.”

How ever the clashing of styles pans out, Ennis could have very well been left without a dance partner following the fallout in negotiations with Ortiz. For that — and the opportunity to hit the turnpike back to Philly with two titles in tow on June 27 — Hearn and Team Ennis are appreciative for Zayas stepping up.

“That’s why I thank Xander Zayas as well because the pressure was on me because my job is to deliver the big fights, the big opportunities for ‘Boots,’” Hearn told DAZN News about what he calls the hardest job in booking fights for Ennis.

The buildup to get to Ortiz had been strategically plotted out by Matchroom as Ennis aced his mandatory challenge at welterweight in a homecoming victory against Karen Chukhadzhian in November 2024. ‘Boots’ then unified titles at 147 pounds by stopping Eimantas Stanionis last April, before walking through an outclassed Uisma Lima in one round back in Philly to win the interim WBA super welterweight title in October.

The stage was set for an Ennis vs. Ortiz tilt in what could have been a generational fight, only for the business of boxing to rear its ugly side and talks to be dashed. That paved the way for an emerging Zayas to be Ennis’ saving grace.

“That’s why I have to respect Xander Zayas because he was the one that says, ‘I could beat him, I’ll prove I’m the best in the division,’” Hearn said. “We need guys like Xander Zayas because I think he’s insane in taking this fight. But he’s got a big set of cojones.”

Wednesday's launch press conference had the young, hungry champion vowing that 'Boots' won't be able to walk him down as he did against welterweights.

At 23 with two titles to his name, the undefeated Puerto Rican sensation can lose the zero associated with his ledger against ‘Boots’, who Hearn called "the boogeyman" of the division.

“Respect,” Hearn said, “but you’re unfortunately also facing who I think is the future pound-for-pound No. 1 in the sport.”

He added: “Let’s find out who the best is.”

Zayas vs. Ennis offers a different fight than Ennis vs. Ortiz would have been, but packs as much — if not, more — intrigue.

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