“It’s a very good plan B if it’s a plan B. Are you interested? Absolutely. Are there talks? Absolutely,” Duboef said today on the Ariel Helwani Show.
This shows it is a real option. Boots is already operating at a higher level, while Zayas is still being built. Matching them now will push Zayas straight into a fight he can’t afford to lose or look poor in, and Top Rank usually doesn’t make that jump unless they believe the fighter is ready for it.
The fight sits in the background of uncertainty surrounding Ennis’ next opponent. A match with Vergil Ortiz Jr. has been discussed but not guaranteed, leaving room for alternatives to come into play.
Zayas has been active and visible, headlining and signing in New York, giving Top Rank a platform if they decide to move him quickly. Duboef pointed directly to that market when asked about the fight.
“In a perfect world, I love New York for that fight,” he said.
It gives you more to go on. It puts the fight on a bigger stage and suggests confidence in Zayas as a draw, not just a competitor.
Nothing is agreed upon, and Duboef made it clear that other options are still being pursued. Still, the fact that Ennis is being seriously discussed against Zayas shows how Top Rank is weighing its next move. Zayas mentioned in this location tell you where they think he is.
Duboef didn’t drop any hints about who Zayas is supposed to fight next. Zayas has mentioned that he wants IBF champion Josh Kelly in a union. It’s a more winnable fight than Ennis, and the kind of game that suits where he is now.
On the face of it, given how Top Rank fits Zayas, it’s hard to see them putting him in Boots. Not now, maybe never, unless big money is involved. Ennis is too good and will likely beat Zayas the same way he handled his last opponent.
