Boxing
What was 16-year-old 'Boots' like? Former sparring partner lifts lid on Ennis
Zayas vs. Ennis: Watch only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Jaron Ennis can make a big impression this weekend when he goes for two world titles against Xander Zayas in New York City.
Touted as a special fighter by many within the boxing trade for many years, even at 16 years of age, there were people who knew that Ennis had serious potential.
Now 29 and unbeaten 36 fights, Ennis has enjoyed a world title reign at welterweight, but victory over Zayas is expected to be the win that turns him into a boxing superstar.
One fighter who has long been impressed with Ennis is Ireland’s Tyrone McKenna who had the opportunity to spar Ennis when he visited Philadelphia at the start of his professional career.
BUY NOW: Zayas vs. Boots PPV right now by clicking here
Mckenna spent time in several American gyms, but when arriving at Bozy Ennis’ base, there was nobody for him to spar except the then-16-year-old youngster.
Joined by Anthony Cacace on his travels, McKenna was hoping to make a statement after basing himself stateside for his professional journey, but he was given a rude awakening by Ennis despite him still being a boy.
“I was speaking to Bozy and he said, ‘we’ve got no-one your weight, but you can spar my son,” said McKenna when speaking to DAZN .
“He said he was 16 and I was 23 at the time. I thought he’d been bad in the house or something because this guy wants his son beaten up. This was insane, his dad putting him with me, a 23-year-old pro boxer and this kid has only had two amateur fights.”
Sparks fly as Zayas and Ennis meet
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“I thought this was going to be an easy spar. I jumped in and i swear to God, he absolutely destroyed me. After that spar, I contemplated whether i should even box anymore.
“I sparred hm for the next two years and I said during those spars that this guy is going to be one of the greats.”
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.
