Jaron Ennis is relinquishing his WBA interim junior middleweight title before ever defending it, choosing instead to reposition himself for a much bigger fight against unified champion Xander Zayas on June 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The move, first reported by Lance Pugmire, allows Ennis to become the WBO’s #1 contender and mandatory challenger. This turns the June 27 fight from a normal title defense into a full unification bout for Zayas’ WBA and WBO belts at 154 pounds.
The maneuver is unusual because fighters usually hold interim belts as protection while they pursue bigger opportunities. Ennis does the opposite. Relinquishing the WBA interim title gives him stronger positioning within the WBO and at the same time improves the commercial value of the Zayas fight.
Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) moved up to junior middleweight after becoming one of the top names in welterweight. The Philadelphia native has been looking for a decisive fight since the division change, and Zayas now gives him a direct route to the middle of the 154-pound division.
Ennis is essentially giving up an accessory belt for a cleaner promotional angle because interim titles are of little importance once established stars enter unification fights.
Zayas (23-0, 14 KOs), 23, quickly became one of boxing’s youngest two-belt champions. A win over Ennis would immediately boost his standing in a division full of established contenders and younger fighters trying to take control after the recent movement at the top of the weight class.
The fight is expected to headline a DAZN pay-per-view card in Brooklyn.
BoxingScene has learned @JaronEnnis is relinquishing his WBA interim 154lbs belt to be number 1 and mandatory @WorldBoxingOrg rival to his June 27 vs. @XanderZayas is an association for both belts.
— Lance Pugmire (@pugboxing) May 13, 2026
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Last updated on 2026/05/13 at 19:36
