Xander Zayas vs Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis: ‘Brooklyn Style’

Ordinarily, this would be a celebratory stomp, a delighted and enthused take pointing out something good, two (fairly) young fighters, coming together and facing off before they “had to.”  But my mood got altered a bit when I learned the founder of this site didn’t make the cut for a media credential at the Saturday, June 27 Barclays Center show featuring Philly fixture Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) versus Puerto Rican upstart Xander Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs). 

But the world keeps turning, and parties occur which were not invited to. As press, media and journalist, I have gotten used to a new norm regarding press at events. Over the past ten years, I’ve noted a continuing slow circle of the drain swirl for reporting and writing. 

This is an age for influencers, with more of an emphasis on video. 

I can take in info faster while reading, but most young people would rather hear and see something said. Text isn’t dead, but it’s battling to stay in the mix, or so it feels when one isn’t on the list.

The conspicuousness of silence, overall, has been unsurprising and only mildly frustrating: people are wanting to hold jobs in a competitive environment. A few folks that did step up and second the notion that Abe works as hard on a weekly basis as anyone deserve thanks. 

That all is my roundabout way of saying my anticipation is dimmed a bit because of these snafus. 

This trend isn’t isolated, either, I was chagrined—-yes, I never use that word—when I didn’t make the media credential list for a Danny Garcia show in Brooklyn a few months ago. The sting is real, we are only human, and we hope that people see the dignity of what we do, covering the sweet and savage science without concrete hope for foundational job security. Also, though, people have no great fondness for pity parties, so, you get my points.

Quick, props to Zayas for stepping out into his own and using the Top Rank 2025-2026 hiatus downsizing to his advantage. He was almost forced into a DIY self-build after getting a tiny bit buried in that sometimes too well-oiled Top Rank machine. 

The oddsmakers are indicating there is a 70% or so probability that Ennis’ O doesn’t go in Brooklyn, that Zayas’ momentum will get slapped and beat down. 

This will show’em, you have to hope if you’ve been a fan since Ennis started defeating names, some eight years ago. Outta sight talent but also out-of-sight out of mind, gloving up pretty much once or twice a year at most. What a measly BoxRec for someone who might be the US face of boxing with any luck. And with the right spreading of the word. 

That is what I was referring to before, this “state of the nation.” I could go on but I won’t, out of solidarity to my banned brother. It feels wrong pretending it doesn’t sting. It also feels wrong just whistling and humming like it isn’t a sad sign of diminished times. This legit anticipated feature is undercut some because of the decision not to seat this site at the venue, though we recognize that is a privilege, not a right. Keeping it real here, not hiding behind a wall, a false front. That is an admission, not a warning.  Influencers will tag along and give you the party line of whoever pays their bills, so credibility isn’t a big part of their game plan. I am hoping you all see that for what it is, marketing. End mini rant …

My prediction: I think Ennis is a glaring talent, at/near his physical prime and is due to show that shine Saturday, behind paywalls at Barclays Center and DAZN, in fairly emphatic fashion. Zayas is still awaiting some of his man strength, hasn’t been in with someone approximating this skill set, and tastes from the bitter cup, taking his first L in Brooklyn. 

Coverage will come from the home office, sorry.

Michael Woods

Michael Woods got addicted to boxing in 1990, when Buster Douglas shocked the world with his demolition of the then-impregnable Mike Tyson. The Brooklyn-based journalist has covered the sport since for ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bad Left Hook and RING. His journalism career started with NY Newsday in 1999. Michael Woods is also an accomplished blow by blow and color man, having done work for Top Rank, DiBella Entertainment, EPIX, and for Facebook Fightnight Live, since 2017.

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