The Matchroom Boxing main event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center turned into an all-out war. Challenger Jaron “Boots” Ennis emerged victorious, stopping Puerto Rico’s Xander Zayas in the seventh round to capture the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles. Ennis scored three knockdowns—in the first, fifth and seventh rounds—to become a two-division world champion after previously ruling the welterweight division.
In our pre-fight analysis, we had expected Zayas to adopt a cautious approach, relying on his mobility for several rounds, controlling the fight from long range and luring Ennis into his trap before counterpunching. We were wrong, but judging by what happened in the opening round, the Puerto Rican might have been better off following that very strategy.
From the opening bell, the champion sought to establish himself in the center of the ring, willingly engaging in dangerous exchanges at mid-range. Ennis immediately took advantage, showcasing his extraordinary hand speed and, after the first of the many stance switches that once again characterized his performance, began landing devastating punches.
A sustained combination, capped by a right hook to the temple followed by a straight left flush to the face, sent Zayas crashing to the canvas, bringing the crowd to its feet and creating the impression that the fight might end very quickly. However, the champion rose immediately and managed to survive the remainder of the round without ever losing his composure or balance.
After a more competitive second round, although still marked by Ennis’ superior speed, Zayas found renewed momentum in the third and even gave the impression that he might produce a stunning turnaround.
Trusting his remarkable reflexes a little too much, Ennis walked into a series of dangerous punches that clearly had him in trouble. The American appeared shaken, yet stubbornly refused either to cover up or clinch, remaining within Zayas’ range with a wild look in his eyes while absorbing one punch after another.
Boots, however, never collapsed, and by the closing moments of the round he had already launched an impressive comeback, stepping inside and battering his opponent with a barrage of vicious uppercuts to the body.
The two fighters continued to wage war relentlessly. Zayas boxed in a more methodical and technically disciplined manner, while Ennis relied on creativity, explosiveness and unpredictability. As often happens in these brutal battles, it was the elite fighter’s brilliance that ultimately made the difference, and Ennis produced that moment in the fifth round.
During a close-range exchange, Ennis unleashed a magnificent right uppercut that landed flush on Zayas’ chin, sending him crashing heavily to the canvas. It was such a spectacular knockdown that even Boots himself looked astonished as he watched his opponent fall.
The champion fought on courageously, but in order to survive the round he had to endure a relentless barrage of punches, prompting the ringside physician to examine him before the sixth round began.
The sixth round was calmer, with Zayas mainly trying to recover and avoid further punishment. Then Ennis shifted back into top gear and drove the fight toward its inevitable conclusion. Overwhelmed by his opponent’s relentless attack, the champion dropped to one knee before looking at the referee with an expression that clearly acknowledged the inevitable stoppage.
The Puerto Rican, who is worth remembering is only twenty-three years old, displayed tremendous heart and fierce determination, standing toe-to-toe with a human wrecking machine and surviving situations that would have forced many fighters to surrender. Personally, I believe that with a less reckless approach he might have given himself a better chance, but defeats like this are also part of a fighter’s development. We are confident that Zayas will learn valuable lessons from this setback and continue building what still has every chance of becoming an outstanding career.
As for the winner, Ennis once again left spectators speechless with his unmatched athleticism, his ability to generate tremendous power from any position and the unpredictability of his punching angles. This time, however, Boots also impressed with the way he recovered from adversity, emerging from the brief crisis he experienced in the third round with renewed energy and determination.
Ennis remains a fighter willing to take risks, completely trusting his reflexes and his ability to prevail in high-tempo exchanges. His defensive habits will therefore always attract criticism, but fighters of his kind are the ones who provide fans with thrills, excitement and unforgettable drama. We are convinced that the new junior middleweight world champion still has many more adrenaline-filled nights in store for the boxing world.