What’s Next For Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis After Saturday’s Big Win Over Xander Zayas

Philadelphia’s Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis stopped Xander Zayas in seven rounds on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, to claim the unified junior middleweight titles.

In the aftermath, rather than appreciate what the 28-year-old Ennis did, we look ahead. It is the crowning moment thus far for Ennis, 36-0 (32 KOs), as he dominated Zayas in a one-sided win, except for the third round, which was one of the better rounds of the year.

Who Could Be Next For Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis?

5. Brandon Adams vs. Bakhram Murtazaliev

        Record: Adams 26-4 (16 KOs); Murtazaliev 23-1 (17 KOs)

        Why: The bout will be contested for the IBF No.1 contender

Unlikely, but Adams is a hard-luck fighter, and Murtazaliev had a cup of coffee with the belt after stopping Tim Tszyu. It would be a chance for a blue-collar fighter to face a star. (Editor’s Note: Reports are circulating that Adams has pulled out of this fight due to it tentatively scheduled to take place in Russia.)

4. Israil Madrimov

        Record: 11-2-1 (7 KOs)

        Why: Former Terence Crawford pay-per-view opponent

Madrimov faced Crawford in a high-stakes pay-per-view two years ago. If Ennis could perform better than Crawford did, it could improve his standing in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings and create distance between himself and Crawford (a man he will always be compared to). Madrimov also lost to Vergil Ortiz, who should be a future opponent for Ennis.

3. Sebastian Fundora

        Record: 24-1-1 (16 KOs)

        Why: WBC junior middleweight champion

At 6’ 6”, Fundora has an incredible frame for the division and is only getting better. His recent run of wins over Tim Tszyu (twice) and Keith Thurman gives him solid, if not elite, wins. He is willing to exchange, which is a massive matchup problem for any fighter who faces him. Fundora against Ennis would pit two similar-minded fighters with completely different frames against each other.

2. Vergil Ortiz

         Record: 24-0 (22 KOs)

         Why: Best fight in boxing

Ortiz is the interim WBC junior middleweight champion, but who cares? A bout between Ennis and Ortiz defies records and belts. It doesn’t need to be bigger. It needs to happen. Ennis is a creative boxer-puncher, and Ortiz is relentless pressure. It is a great opposites-attract matchup that will create a full-fledged star.

https://x.com/VergilOrtiz/status/2071079017520808246?s=20

1. Josh Kelly

         Record: (18-1-1, 9 KOs)

         Why: The IBF junior middleweight champion

Kelly is signed with Matchroom Boxing and won the title in January. Ennis going to the U.K. in the fall to face Kelly would potentially set the stage for him to hold three of the titles in the division and also allow a WBC consolidation bout between Sebastian Fundora and Vergil Ortiz, if that could be made. The winners could face in the first part of 2027.

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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