As anticipation builds for the upcoming showdown between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Xander Zayas, former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. that the atmosphere inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, should be the least of Ennis’ worries.
With Zayas expected to draw strong support from New York’s large Puerto Rican fan base, some questioned whether the pro-Zayas crowd could play a factor on fight night. Jones, who fought Felix Trinidad in front of a pro-Trinidad audience in New York, dismissed the idea outright.
“He doesn’t have to worry about the crowd at all. The crowd doesn’t fight. Just him and Xander fight,” Jones told Fighthype when asked if Ennis should be concerned about the hostile atmosphere.
“It’s not like they’re going to have a gang against a gang. No, it’s just you. You know what I’m saying? When I fought there, I loved the crowd, but I know most of them are going to cheer for Tito.”
Jones explained that fighters cannot allow themselves to be distracted by the emotions inside the arena.
“That’s cool. That’s their guy. What do you expect them to do? So yeah, they’re going to cheer for him,” Jones said.
“You’re just going to fight him in that ring. You’ve got to worry about fighting nobody but him. That’s why they have a referee. They’ve got judges. They’ve got security. And you’re not fighting one person, you know, one person. So, and that’s all you have to worry about.”
Ennis and Zayas will meet on June 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. While Zayas is expected to receive strong support from New York’s Puerto Rican community, Jones believes the only challenge Ennis has to solve is the one standing across from him.
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Last updated on 2026/06/13 at 12:50 p.m
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