“Boots Don’t Knock Xander Out”

“Yeah, I favor Xander 100%,” Ortiz told MillCity Boxing. “I just see his work ethic, and he’s also got a good coach. I think he’s going to make it.

“And, yeah, I fought Boots, too. It was a long time ago, but he’s definitely smart and smart in the ring, too. So, hopefully he can. We’ll see if he gets any of those shots on Xander.

“I think a lot of people underestimate Xander’s abilities. I think they go more for the flashy stuff, which they see with Boots, and they put more weight on the flashiness than the actual effectiveness of Xander.”

Many observers predicted an Ennis win by stoppage, but Ortiz doesn’t see the fight ending that way.

“There’s no way. I don’t think it’s going to end in a knockout. No, Boots isn’t knocking Xander out. I’ll tell you that right now,” Jamaine said. “He’s a big kid.”

Ortiz said that Zayas’ physical development since turning pro has been overlooked by some fans.

“You talk about 16, these are your growing years. Men, you keep growing until you’re about 26, 28. He’s still young. He’s still going to keep growing.”

The former lightweight contender also pointed to Zayas’ technical foundation as a major strength heading into the fight.

“I think he can actually move a lot and have good pivots and things like that,” Ortiz said. “The brilliance of Jaron overshadows all of Xander’s work. You know when you just see all this style, it takes away from the fundamentals. His fundamentals are spot on.”

When asked for his final prediction, Ortiz didn’t leave much room for doubt.

“I’m going to say unanimously.”

Ennis and WBA and WBO junior middleweight champion Zayas are scheduled to meet on June 27 on DAZN PPV in one of the most anticipated fights of the year, with the undefeated rivals set to clash after years of fan demand for the bout.