‘Boots can’t play with this boy’ vs. Xander Zayas

“I’m going with Boots,” Russell told Sean Zittel while discussing the fight. “Now, Xander is no slouch. He’s young, powerful, strong, has good head movement, is in shape, comes to fight, and he’s got something to lose. He’s going to give it his all.”

Russell pointed to Ennis’ athletic ability and creativity as major advantages, while also noting that training with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez could provide additional advantages heading into the biggest fight of his career.

Still, Russell made it clear that Zayas isn’t arriving as an underdog simply looking to survive.

“Xander isn’t going to lay down for Boots. He doesn’t care about no name, he doesn’t care about what everyone said about you. He’s coming to fight,” Antuanne said.

The Philadelphia contender moved up from welterweight after dominating the division and stopping Eimantas Stanionis in their unification bout last year. Zayas enters the fight as the WBA and WBO champion after unifying the titles against Abass Baraou in Puerto Rico in January.

Russell expects the fight to become increasingly dangerous as it progresses.

“Boots can’t play with this boy,” Russell said. “Xander will let Boots watch the lights; it will be an upset. Xander has some pop. He comes to work, and he’s smart, too.”

Despite these warnings, Russell eventually sided with Ennis, citing the combination of natural talent and experience he had developed since their amateur encounters.

“But at the end of the day I’m going with Boots,” said Russell.

This weekend’s fight will determine whether Ennis can become a unified champion in a second weight class and whether Zayas can hand one of boxing’s most highly regarded fighters the first loss of his professional career.