“He’s really sharp and smart,” Ennis said. “He plays around when he wants to, and he goes for the kill when he wants to. That’s me. I’m the same type of way. Our styles are fan-friendly.”
While Ennis and Whittaker may share an appreciation for entertaining crowds, their upcoming assignments present very different challenges.
Whittaker, 11-0-1 (8 KOs), will face Richard Rivera in his US debut on the undercard at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 29-year-old Olympic silver medalist has yet to face a world-class opponent during his professional career. His recent wins over Benjamin Gavazi and Brian Suarez came against opponents who lacked the speed and technical ability to consistently trouble him.
Even Liam Cameron, whose first fight with Whittaker ended in a controversial draw, was not the type of slick boxer capable of letting Whittaker chase him around the ring. The rematch allowed Whittaker to answer some questions, but it stopped short of proving how his style would hold up against elite light heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Jaron faces a different kind of investigation against Xander Zayas.
Unlike the slower, pressure-oriented opponents that Ennis has often looked spectacular against, Zayas brings movement, discipline and a technically sound boxing style. The unbeaten title holder operates behind a sharp jab, uses angles effectively and rarely gives opponents prolonged opportunities to showcase their offensive creativity.
This could make it considerably more difficult for Boots to “have fun” in the ring.
Critics have long questioned the level of opposition Ennis has faced throughout his career, arguing that the praise around him has outweighed the quality of his CV. A dominant win over Zayas would provide one of the strongest answers to those concerns.
Whittaker is largely matched with opponents willing to engage on his terms. Zayas is not built that way. The 23-year-old prefers to box behind his jab, create angles and make opponents recover. For Ennis, this could mean fewer chances to entertain and more emphasis on solving the puzzle in front of him.
If not, the conversation around Ennis may remain unchanged.
Whittaker was largely allowed to dictate the terms of his fights. On June 27, Ennis will be tasked with doing something more difficult: imposing his style on an opponent whose game plan is built to take away that freedom.
