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.
For a one-sided fight, it was entertaining as Zayas had his moments. I had Zayas winning the third and fourth round, but the fourth round could easily had gone Ennis way, it was the closet round of the fight, but the other rounds were easily Ennis. Even in the rounds Ennis won, Zayas still had his moment. I had the fight halfway the fight 48-45 but it could easily been 49-44 if you gave Ennis the fourth round.
Ennis dominated most of the fights as he landed 148 total punches to Zayas 90 and 131 of Ennis punches were power shots.
Ennis put Zayas down three times and now has Zayas WBA and WBO junior Middleweight championship belts in front of rabid boxing crown at the Barclays Center. Ennis predicted he would win the fight within the distance and he has now put himself in the pound for pound category and beating Zayas gives him a significant opponent as he had his breakout performance.