Jaron Ennis said he’s ready to silence the doubters when he faces Xander Zayas in Brooklyn on June 27.
Boots and Zayas meet in an attractive 154lbs clash with the gifted 28-year-old Philadelphian ready to make his assault on the pound-for-pound rankings.
Now 35-0 (31 KOs), Ennis is coming off a first-round stoppage of Uisma Lima while unified champion Zayas, 23-0 (13 KOs), added the WBA title to his WBO belt with a split decision win over Abass Baraou in January.
It is a huge fight at the Barclays Center.
In Matchroom’s newly-released Day In The Life YouTube film documenting Ennis’ build-up, Boots said: “I’m excited to fight a guy who’s got two belts. I’m excited to fight one of the top guys in the division. I’m ready to shut everybody up.
“I feel like the winner of the fight is the man, in any division. I feel like I’m taking over boxing and on June 27th you will hear the words ‘and the new…’”
Boots moved up to 154 and debuted against Lima in October after a commanding victory over Eimantas Stanionis last April.
“Shoutout to 154, I love being at this weight,” Ennis said. “I can eat whatever I want. I definitely feel better at this weight. I’m way more comfortable. I can do whatever I want. I expect a knockout. A big knockout. Whatever he thinks he does, I do way better. He can’t jab better than me, he’s not faster than me, he’s not slicker than me, he’s not stronger than me, his defense is not better than mine, his footwork is not better than mine. There’s levels. I’m the best in the world.”
Ennis said it was family, friends and team that helped keep him driven through camp.
“I want to be generational and carry the torch… that drives me every day,” he added. “This is what I’ve been waiting for all my life. Since I was an amateur. I always wanted to turn pro. Since I was 15, my goal was to turn pro and win every belt, every weight division I’m in… I’m going to make those dreams come true.”
Father and trainer Bozy Ennis spoke of his respect for Zayas when he said: “I like Xander as a fighter. A as fighter, he’s a good fighter. To me, he’s got a good jab, he can punch, he can box, and he’s got this [heart].”
