Jaron “Boots” Ennis has been mentioned among the sport’s elite for years, but DAZN commentator Todd Grisham believes the June 27 showdown with Xander Zayas is the fight that will determine whether he truly belongs in the same conversation as Terence Crawford.
The undefeated Ennis will move up to junior middleweight to challenge unified WBO and WBA champion Xander Zayas at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in one of the most anticipated fights of 2026. While both fighters enter undefeated, Grisham sees the fight as a defining moment for Ennis’ standing in the sport.
“As great as Boots Ennis is, I still don’t think he gets the respect of a lot of hardcore boxing fans,” Grisham told DAZN Boxing. “This feels like the moment for Boots. Not only do I think he needs to win this fight, I think he needs to dominate and separate himself from Xander Zayas and say, ‘Look, this guy’s not even on my level. I’m on the Terence Crawford level. That’s the level of fighter that I am.’
Ennis, 35-0, captured two welterweight titles before deciding to pursue bigger opportunities at 154 pounds. He revealed during the documentary that he specifically requested the Zayas fight after negotiations for a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. not realized.
The fight for Zayas represents the biggest challenge of his career. The Puerto Rican star has repeatedly said that it is necessary to face elite opposition to achieve greatness, and he pushed for the match despite being the underdog in many observers’ eyes.
Grisham believes the stakes are especially high for ‘Boots’ as expectations have followed him throughout his rise through the ranks.
“I think he’s a pound-for-pound number one in waiting,” Grisham said. “But to do that, you need battles like this.”
The winner of the June 27 clash will leave Barclays Center as one of boxing’s top names in junior middleweight and with a strong case for a spot near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
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Last updated on 2026/06/19 at 03:19
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