“This presents a significant test for both individuals,” Hackett remarked on his broadcast. “The victor of such an encounter would undoubtedly experience a massive surge in their career.”
The moment for this suggestion is also crucial. An anticipated bout featuring Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. was previously a clear possibility; however, due to Vergil’s ongoing promotional complications hindering that route, Hackett’s suggested substitute gains considerable traction. Rather than pausing for those circumstances to resolve, a match against Xander, who currently possesses the WBA and WBO championships at 154 pounds, emerges as a viable opportunity to maintain Ennis’s momentum.
The significance of this contest, from Hackett’s perspective, stems from the benefits each competitor stands to acquire with a victory. Boots has consistently faced the recurring criticism throughout his recent career that fans desire to witness him compete against a well-known, legitimate adversary. Hackett is convinced that Zayas adequately fulfills this requirement, sufficient to quell some of those discussions.
“Concerning Boots, the public constantly states, ‘We simply wish to see him compete against a noteworthy individual,’” Hackett explained. “Xander undeniably fits that description.”
Simultaneously, he shifted his perspective and highlighted the implications of the fight for Zayas. Instead of progressing gradually or anticipating a championship route to materialize, Hackett perceives this as an opportunity for Zayas to elevate his status dramatically in a single evening, should he succeed.
“Should Xander defeat Boots, he would have conquered the formidable figure,” he declared. “This would unequivocally establish him as a significant presence.”
Hackett further remarked that he hadn’t anticipated such a contest materializing so soon, an aspect that enhances his approval. In a discipline where strategic timing is frequently meticulous, he perceives substantial merit in a pairing that propels both athletes forward earlier than projected, rather than prolonging their development.
“My expectation was not for this fight to occur this promptly,” Hackett stated. “However, such is the nature of boxing. Competitors are indeed required to rise to the occasion.”
As Hackett describes it, the allure extends beyond the potential for a competitive struggle. The match, he suggests, would resolve two distinct ongoing discussions in a single evening: one concerning Ennis’s need for a recognized opponent, and the other regarding Zayas’s genuine standing within the elite ranks.
This particular contest holds strategic value for both professional trajectories. For Xander, it would mark his initial encounter with a respected adversary and an opportunity to demonstrate he is more than an athlete who was strategically guided to acquire two championship titles. For Boots, it would provide him with his first widely acknowledged opponent since his ascent to the 154-pound category in 2025, subsequent to his sole bout in that division concluding with a swift first-round victory over the lesser-known Uisma Lima.
