By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Jaron “Boots” Ennis took on Xander Zayas, for Zayas’ WBA / WBO Junior Middleweight titles. Both fighters were undefeated, but Ennis was the heavy favorite and in the first round, he showed why he was the favorite as he thumped Zayas around the ring. An Ennis left spun Zayas to the canvas for a knockdown and gave Ennis the opening round sending many fans wondering how quickly this would end.

In the second round, Ennis continuing to pound Zayas as he easily took the round and the fight moved to the third, where Zayas showed life as landed a right hand that Ennis walked through but the second right got Ennis attention and Zayas won the round and in the fourth round saw a Zayas punch spin Ennis head around as both fighters gave as much as they got.  The round was close, but I gave it to Zayas, but it could have gone for Ennis. In the third and fourth round, Zayas landed 50 punches to Ennis 41. Zayas 28 and 22 punches in the third and fourth rounds, whereas Ennis landed 19 and 22.

Ennis got control of the fight in the fifth as he nailed Zayas with everything but the kitchen sink. He sent Zayas down a second time with a right upper cut and overall, he landed 37 punches to Zayas 16. 

In the sixth round, Ennis landed three times as many punches but at the end of the round, Zayas was still standing. The seventh round saw the end of the fight. Both fighters mixed it up in the middle of the ring, but Ennis landed a hard punch combination and began walking Zayas down   Ennis left connected and followed by swift combinations, send Zayas down for a third time and the fight ended as Zayas went down to a knee.

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

(Result / May 30, 2026 / El Paso, Texas)

Holly Holm nearly won another championship at the age of 44 but lost a controversial bout in which she outpunch her opponent by 30 punches, and scored with more punches, in 10 of the twelve rounds against Stephanie Han and in the last three rounds, she landed 40 punches to Han 17 punches to finish strong.  The judges had it a majority decision for Han, but I had Holm the winner but that is boxing.

As for the Han fight, Holm stated her case on a recent podcast, “I felt like the first few rounds, it started a little closer, and then I just started to take over and took control of the fight. I felt in control, for the most part. Anything can happen. And obviously, there’s some [punches], like if I pull out [and pull away], and it almost looks worse than what it is. It’s a 10-round fight. It’s not like she didn’t land any shots. I never felt any hard shots that really did a lot, and I know that I was dictating the pace. I know I was the one with more action. I felt like I threw more punches. I know I was in her hometown, but you still have to trust that maybe these judges are going to be professional.”  She was right as Compubox had her landing more punches and the more active fighter. There is a saying in boxing, you must take the crown from the champion and in my view she did.