Ennis stops Zayas to win WBO, WBA junior middleweight titles
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Jaron "Boots" Ennis defeated Xander Zayas via seventh-round stoppage at Barclays Center, capturing Zayas' WBO and WBA junior middleweight titles with three knockdowns during the fight.
- Ennis, now 36-0 with 32 KOs, delivered a dominant performance that establishes him as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters, overcoming a tough challenge from the youngest male world champion, Zayas.
- Zayas, 23, showed resilience by fighting back strongly after early knockdowns but ultimately succumbed to Ennis' relentless assault in the seventh round, marking his first professional loss.
- The fight featured a dramatic momentum shift, including a wild third round where Zayas hurt Ennis, but Ennis regained control with superior speed and power, culminating in a decisive uppercut knockdown in the fifth round.
- Despite the loss, Zayas expressed respect for Ennis and plans to take time off before returning to the ring, demonstrating his commitment to continue his boxing career.
