Boxing
Keys to Victory: How Xander Zayas vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis will be won
Zayas vs. Ennis: Watch only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Xander Zayas believes defeating Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will unequivocally make him the best 154-pounder in boxing. Ennis is eyeing a hallmark performance to prove much of the same.
After an intriguing buildup, Zayas puts his WBA/WBO super welterweight world titles on the line against Ennis at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York tonight, live on DAZN PPV.
Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) became the youngest unified champ in boxing this past January with a split-decision win over Abass Baraou. Meanwhile, Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) made his 154-pound debut last October by delivering a first-round TKO of Uisma Lima.
Will Zayas’ size as the bigger man make this risky fight look more like a cunning calculation? Or will ‘Boots’ make the 23-year-old Puerto Rican sensation the standout victim on his resume? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both the champ and challenger, heading into tonight's mega bout.
Sparks fly as Zayas and Ennis meet
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Xander Zayas’ Keys to Victory
Keep fluidly moving off the center line
It’s not that Xander Zayas keeps his head on the center line for too long. It’s more that he keeps it on the center line for just long enough for Ennis to possibly catch him with his sharp potshotting ability.
Therefore, Zayas would be aided by fluidly moving off the center line, making sure to show Ennis plenty of angles along the way to avoid giving ‘Boots’ wide-open lanes.
Pressure, bang the body
Pressuring forward and successfully attacking the body with crunching hooks will allow Zayas to turn those rib shots into front ends of quick combinations.
The 23-year-old already does this well as it’s within his norm to fire to the body, then laser a whipping shot upstairs. Therefore, the champ walking through turbulence to ensure he’s steadily tapping Ennis’ body is a major key.
Look for the left hook or uppercuts inside
As the bigger fighter, Zayas must make it a point to pressure his way into the pocket where he can unload greater damage. For a big super welterweight, the Puerto Rican fighter works his angles well and can use his agility to uncork slicing uppercuts against Ennis.
If the aforementioned body shots take their toll and Ennis lowers his guard enough, Zayas ought to use that as a green light to fire a left hook.
Ennis showed some susceptibility to the punch against David Avanesyan and Karen Chukhadzhian. As the biggest fighter to encounter Ennis, Zayas landing the left hook cleanly might give a whole new meaning to putting ‘Boots’ on the ground, marking a defining victory in his young career.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ Keys to Victory
Catch Zayas with clean, eye-catching shots
Earlier this week, Eddie Hearn vowed to me that Xander Zayas “is going to get hit in those first six rounds like he’s never been hit before — with speed, variation, angles and combinations that he’s just not experienced.”
It’s part of the eye-catching collection that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will need to dominate judges’ scorecards or stop Zayas altogether. Potshotting, clean punches are also what Ennis dishes best.
Stifle Zayas on the feet with subtle movements
The buildup to this fight had Zayas saying that Ennis is flat-footed. But the eye test on the former unified welterweight world champion tells a different story.
‘Boots’ has smooth, subtle movements on the feet, allowing him to pick his spots and work sharp angles offensively, while evading harm’s way defensively.
These slick offerings on the feet should not only be used to test Zayas, but stifle him.
Head roll with Zayas’ left hook
I spoke with Ennis’ father and trainer, Bozy Ennis, after Thursday’s final press conference in Brooklyn and he told me how his son uses a head roll to lessen the brunt of punches that land against him. “He takes it away,” the trainer said, while rotating his head to show how his son reduces punches' impact. “He gets hit with a few shots, but he takes a lot of shots away.”
This slight head movement, especially against Zayas’ left hook, will allow ‘Boots’ to lessen the impact of the champ’s blows, while also giving Ennis the opening to counter.
Who has the edge in Zayas vs. Ennis?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
Eddie Hearn told DAZN News that fans are “going to see one of the greatest performances” tonight from Ennis. To that front, I believe Zayas will offer more resistance than expected and possibly put ‘Boots’ in vulnerable spots that we’ve never seen via pressure. Still, Ennis’ potshotting ability will spell the difference. He will hit Zayas cleanly and often with eye-catching shots, while evading harm himself. It will be enough to have his hand raised in victory, becoming the new owner of the WBA/WBO 154-pound titles and lifting his superstar flight into ascension.
Zayas vs. Ennis - watch only on DAZN
Xander Zayas defends his WBO and WBA super welterweight titles against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on Saturday, June 27, exclusively live on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Joshua vs. Prenga (July 25) and Canelo vs. M'billi (Sept 12) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
