Boxing figurehead Bob Arum suggests a hypothetical showdown between Xander Zayas and Jaron Ennis would be a “significant bout” considering “Boots’ ascent to the 154-pound division. However, Arum, the head of Top Rank, remains taciturn regarding the timeline for potentially sanctioning a Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) encounter with Ennis.
Zayas Facing Ennis Seems Implausible
Zayas, hailing from Puerto Rico, has not demonstrated the readiness to contend with a formidable opponent like Boots Ennis or any other titleholders in the 154-pound class. A considerable number of the top 15 contenders would likely secure a victory over Xander. He appears to embody the archetype of a manufactured fighter, cultivated through meticulously selected matchups and a stroke of fortune in the WBO’s rankings, which placed the relatively untested fighter, Jorge Garcia, at the #2 position, ahead of figures such as Israil Madrimov, Erickson Lubin, or Serhii Bohachuk.
“That would be quite compelling. Ennis is an exceptionally skilled fighter. Such a match would be a major event,” promoter Bob Arum conveyed to YSM Sports Media when queried about his sentiments regarding a potential clash between Xander Zayas and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on a recent Saturday evening.
The likelihood of Arum permitting Boots Ennis to face Zayas or any other accomplished contenders or champions remains slim unless Turki Alalshikh expresses interest in allocating substantial financial resources to orchestrate such a fight. Arum aims to establish Zayas as a lucrative draw on the East Coast, capitalizing on the significant Puerto Rican demographic in the New York metropolitan area. By strategically nurturing Xander’s trajectory through carefully chosen opponents, he anticipates generating substantial revenue for Top Rank.
Arum Indicates Zayas’s Upcoming Fight in Puerto Rico
“While the opponent remains undetermined, my intention is to arrange his inaugural title defense in Puerto Rico during the winter months,” Arum stated, referring to the next opponent for the newly crowned WBO junior middleweight champion, Zayas.
Xander, aged 22, exhibited signs of unease on the preceding Saturday, resorting to evasion and clinching throughout his 12-round unanimous decision victory over Jorge Garcia at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
Zayas appeared visibly fatigued in the later rounds, attributed to the combined effects of Garcia’s persistent pressure and the constant movement he employed to avert a potential knockout. The judges awarded Zayas a 12-round decision with scores of 116-112, 118-110, and 119-109.
