Xander Zayas leaves 154 for middleweight after boots Ennis fight

“From a very reliable source, this will be Xander Zayas’ last fight at 154 regardless of the outcome Saturday night against Boots Ennis,” Glaser said on X. “Xander is headed to 160 and the middleweight division. This decision was made a while ago.”

If accurate, the move would bring a swift end to Zayas’ championship run at 154. The 23-year-old captured the vacant WBO title earlier this year before adding the WBA belt, but his future has long been expected to lie at middleweight as he continues to fill out physically.

Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) now faces the toughest test of his career against the undefeated Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs), who has moved up after establishing himself as one of boxing’s top welterweights. The fight headlines DAZN Pay-Per-View from Barclays Center and will determine who leaves Brooklyn with two world titles.

A move to 160 would give Zayas a new set of challenges after years of campaigning at junior middleweight. Although no opponent has been named for his middleweight debut, Glaser’s report suggests the decision has already been made behind the scenes and is not dependent on Saturday’s outcome.

Zayas’ immediate focus remains on Ennis. But if Glaser’s information proves correct, Saturday night’s fight will be the final chapter of his career in the 154-pound division before a new campaign begins at middleweight.