Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, the undefeated two-weight world champion from Philadelphia, faces Xander Zayas in a title unification bout on Saturday at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Ennis, 29, holds a perfect 36-0 record with 31 knockouts and is the WBA interim champion at 154lb, having previously unified the welterweight division.
Legacy and Philadelphia Roots
Ennis describes this fight as part of a 'legacy tour.' He told the Guardian: 'I call this the legacy tour and we just getting started. I was unified lineal champion at 147 and I’m about to be unified champ again at 154. So, it’s already written.' The fighter, who grew up in Germantown and attended John Story Jenks Academy, credits his upbringing for his resilience. 'It means everything to be from Philadelphia and be a Philadelphia fighter. With us, we always find a way to win,' he said.
Fighting Style and Preparation
Standing 5ft 10in with a 74in reach, Ennis is known for his athleticism, power, and ability to switch stances. He avoids social media during training camp, focusing solely on preparation. 'When I’m in camp, don’t be on the internet. Just post whatever you got to post and get off,' he noted.
The Zayas Challenge
Zayas, 23, is the WBA and WBO super-welterweight champion and one of boxing's rising stars. Despite Zayas's pedigree, Ennis is a 5-1 favorite. Ennis pushed for the fight after a potential bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr. fell through. 'Once I figured out that we wasn’t going to be able to make the Ortiz fight, I told Eddie: Yo, go get me Xander, please. He the next best option. He got two belts. He got what I want,' Ennis said.
Family Influence
Ennis's father, Derek 'Bozy' Ennis, trained him and his older brothers, Derek 'Pooh' Ennis and Farah Ennis, who fell short of world titles. Boots learned from their mistakes. 'That was my part, just to take my last name to the next level, and that’s what I’m doing,' he explained. His father's key lesson: 'Always be yourself. Don’t be no follower. Be a leader.'
Defense and Legacy
Ennis bristles at criticism of his defense. 'I feel like people be underlooking my defense. My defense is really crazy. I feel like one person said one thing and then all of a sudden I get hit too much. They’re going to see on fight night though,' he said. His ultimate goal: 'When my career is done and I retire as an undefeated legend, the best in the world, the best ever, I want people to say: I want to be like him when I get older.'
