As we inch closer towards the June 27 super welterweight title fight between Xander Zayas vs Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, both fighters sit down with Chris Mannix on behalf of DAZN to discuss their impending battle. Both fighters present extreme confidence leading into the bout and neither were willing to get caught up in the assessments of the other.
Zayas on if he’s fighting Boots because it’s the most lucrative option
“It’s never been about the money. Never. I mean, when I fought for the two belts it was never about the money. When they gave me the Vergil Ortiz fight it wasn’t about the money, Sebastian Fundora, wasn’t about the money. Boots, it’s not about the money. It’s about the legacy. I want to be the best and this is how you make it happen.”
Zayas on calling Boots a weight bully
“He was. Look at Stanionis, look at all the guys he’s faced at ‘47. He was way bigger, way more athletic than all those guys and they going in there thinking or knowing ‘once you hit me, I don’t want to get hit no more, that’s it.’ When you got a guy as big as you, as athletic as you, as hungry as you, it’s a whole different story.”
Boots on the criticism from Zayas
“If I would’ve fought them same two guys that he just fought, the whole world would be bashing me for sure. That’s how you know I’m on a different level and I’m going to show him there’s levels to this boxing game. Like I said, solid fighter for sure, getting better, but I’m going to be too much for him. All this is going to be too much for him.”
Boots on why he thinks Zayas will be a sitting target for him
“I watch a lot and I seen him and he don’t really move his head too much. I never really seen (him) fight before until recently…I been at the level for a while now. I know what it takes to be up here and it’s different up here. And like I said, I’m glad he took the fight and he going to see. I don’t really got too much to say, for real for real. If he makes any mistakes he’s going to pay, for sure. Guaranteed.”
Zayas on what he sees in Boots that gives him so much confidence and his plans to take his heart from him
“He’s never been uncomfortable. He’s never had to make an adjustment ‘cause all these guys were tailor made for him to look good. Come fight night he’s going to be uncomfortable and he’s going to be 10 steps behind me. Simple.
“He’s going to get to a point where his head, his brain won’t be able to give him the answers he’s looking for, his body won’t be able to react. And when that times comes he’s in deep waters now, he’s in trouble. And then that’s when his heart is going to come with me. He’s not going to be able to handle it.”