Zayas says Ennis has not been tested as they prepare to meet in Brooklyn on June 27
Xander Zayas says Jaron Ennis is not an elite fighter ahead of their June 27 fight at Barclays Center. He also questioned Ennis’ level of opposition.
Zayas, who holds the WBA and WBO titles at 154 pounds, acknowledged Ennis’ ability but stopped short of placing him among the sport’s top names.
“He’s a good fighter,” Zayas said to Ring Magazine. “But I don’t think he’s a great fighter. I’m going to do what I do June 27th, and I’m going to come out victorious.”
The 23-year-old also pointed to what he sees as a lack of adversity in Ennis’ career to date, suggesting that the Philadelphia fighter has yet to be tested under difficult conditions.
“Everything. He’s never been uncomfortable. He’s always had it his way,” Zayas said. “He’s always had fighters that put up a little bit of a fight, and then they quit.”
Zayas believes that will change when they meet, describing himself as a different type of opponent compared to those Ennis has faced so far.
“When you have a young champion that is willing to risk everything to go in there, that’s scary,” he said. “He has me now in front of him and he’s going to have to adjust because he’s going to be really uncomfortable come fight night.”
In addition to questioning Ennis’ résumé, Zayas also highlighted technical areas he plans to target in the bout.
“He eats every straight punch. He eats every hook,” Zayas said. “There’s a lot of things that I can take advantage of.”
Zayas insisted the fight was made without difficulty, contrasting it with previous negotiations involving other contenders.
“It was an easy negotiation. We both wanted to fight. There’s no what ifs,” he said. “When both fighters want it, it’s an easy conversation to have.”
The fight between Zayas and Ennis is scheduled for June 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
