Promoter Eddie Hearn says he’s interested in putting together a fight between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas.
Zayas and Ennis: The Interest
Hearn states he’s spoken to Top Rank about working with them for Xander’s homecoming fight later this year in Puerto Rico. If Zayas wins that fight and Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) is victorious in his match next month against Uisma Loma, then Hearn wants to negotiate a Zayas-Ennis fight.
Hearn says he’d hoped to put together a fight between ‘Boots’ and Vergil Ortiz Jr. for early 2026, but he’s not received any contact from Vergil’s promoters at Golden Boy. So, he now doubts that they’re interested in making that fight. A fighter that he says wants to fight Ennis is Zayas.
The Lima Problem
Again, it’ll require that both Ennis and Zayas win their next fights. As Hearn points out, ‘Boots’ has a tough fight ahead of him against Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) on October 11, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. This will be Ennis’ debut at 154. Lima is ranked #9 IBF, #9 WBA, and #9 WBC.
Hearn is also interested in these two fights for Ennis:
- Bakhram Murtazaliev: IBF 154-lb champion
- Terence Crawford: WBA champion
The Zayas-Ennis
“Xander Zayas, I believe, does want the fight. We’ve had a conversation with Top Rank about maybe working together at giving him a homecoming in Puerto Rico, and then make the ‘Boots’ fight. We’re up for that. Boots against Xander Zayas, what a fight,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to Chris Mannix’s channel about his interest in putting together a fight between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas.
A fight between Ennis and Zayas would be an interesting one, as it would match two excellent boxers against each other. It would also allow Zayas to show fans that he’s not afraid to take risky fights, and that he’s not a carefully maneuvered, artificial champion like many believe him to be.
Hearn didn’t say who he would use from his Matchroom stable as the opponent for Zayas, 23, to make his first defense of his WBO 154-lb title against this December in Puerto Rico.
Murtazaliev’s Path to Ennis
“Then you have [Bakhram] Murtazaliev talking about fighting Josh Kelly in December. We’ll [Ennis] fight him as well. The winner of ‘Boots against Lima is going to be the mandatory challenger for Terence Crawford. Now, we know it may be unlikely that he’ll return to 154, but who knows?”
A fight between Ennis and IBF 154-lb champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) would be exciting for fans to watch. Jaron would have the opportunity to show people what he can do against the fighter who destroyed former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu by a third-round knockout on October 19, 2024.
The WBA Title Situation
If the WBA strips Crawford of his title due to abandonment, Ennis and WBA interim champion Abass Baraou can fight for the vacant belt. Elevating Abass to WBA champion would also work, allowing Ennis to fight for the belt rather than being awarded the title, as he claimed the IBF welterweight belt on November 9, 2024.
“‘Boots’ against Crawford is another fantastic fight. So the one thing you don’t have to worry about, Boots, is that he will fight anybody. Get through Lima, which is going to be tough. This guy is coming to fight. Get him done, and then we’ll fight absolutely anybody,” said Hearn,
Win or lose on Saturday against Canelo Alvarez, it’s unlikely that Crawford will return to 154 for a fight with the young ‘Boots’ Ennis at any point unless Turki Alalshikh offers him a massive payday.
It’s too difficult a fight for Crawford, and what would make it harder is if he chooses to sit out of the ring for another year after his clash with Canelo. Returning at 39 years old to fight Ennis would be a nightmare for Terence. A loss to ‘Boots’ would tarnish his legacy, especially if it’s by knockout.