“I’m just excited to fight someone, you know, a guy who’s got two belts, a guy who is inyou know, one of the tops in the division. I’m ready to shut everyone up,” Ennis told Matchroom Boxing.
It was an intriguing choice of words from Ennis. He could have simply described Zayas as a world champion, a belt holder or one of the division’s elite fighters. Instead, he referred to him as “a guy who’s in.”
For many fans, the meaning behind that phrase will resonate immediately.
Whether it was the popular crowd at school, established circles in the workplace, or simply the feeling of being overlooked in spite of yourself, most people understand the distinction between those who are “in” and those who are still trying to earn acceptance.
Ennis has spent much of his professional career in the latter category.
Despite compiling an undefeated record, collecting world titles and earning a reputation as one of boxing’s most gifted fighters, the Philadelphia native has often found himself outside of the sport’s biggest conversations. While names like Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Conor Benn have generated headlines through rivalries, social media presence and promotional support, Ennis has largely let his performances do the talking.
Now, however, he believes his moment has arrived.
“I feel like after this fight I’m the man, you know, any division. So I feel like I’m taking over boxing, you know, starting June 27,” Ennis says.
Later in the video, Ennis spoke like a fighter who is convinced that June 27 is his opportunity to force himself into boxing’s biggest conversations.
“Big knockout on June 27 … whatever he thinks he’s doing, I’m doing a lot better,” Ennis said. “You can’t jab better than me, no faster than me, no smoother than me, no stronger than me, your defense no better than mine, like your footwork no better than mine. You know it’s levels. I’m the best in the world.”
Zayas enters the contest as the reigning WBA and WBO champion at 154 pounds and one of the division’s most recognizable figures. For Ennis, defeating a fighter he considers “a guy who’s in” will mean more than adding two more belts to his collection.
It would be an opportunity to finally move from boxing’s periphery to the center of the sport’s conversation.
Ennis and Zayas will clash on June 27 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles on the line live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
