Boxing
Jaron Ennis sees himself in Ben Whittaker, but Xander Zayas won’t stand still
“He’s really intelligent and intelligent,” Ennis said. “He plays when he wants and kills when he wants. That’s me. I’m the same type. Our style is fan-friendly.”
While Ennis and Whittaker may share an appreciation for entertaining audiences, their upcoming assignments come with very different challenges.
Whittaker (11-0-1 (8 KO)) will face Richard Rivera in his American debut on the undercard at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 29-year-old Olympic silver medalist has not yet faced a world-class opponent in his professional career. His recent wins over Benjamin Gavazi and Brian Suarez came against opponents who lacked the speed and technical ability to consistently cause him problems.
Even Liam Cameron, whose first fight with Whittaker ended in a controversial draw, wasn’t the type of graceful boxer who could make Whittaker chase him around the ring. The rematch allowed Whittaker to answer some questions, but it didn’t prove how well his style would hold up against elite airy heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Jaron faces a different kind of test against Xander Zayas.
Unlike the slower, high-pressure opponents against whom Ennis often looked spectacular, Zayas brings movement, discipline and a technically sound boxing style. The undefeated titleholder operates with a edged jab, uses angles effectively and rarely gives his opponents extended opportunities to showcase his offensive creativity.
This can make it much more hard for Boots to “have fun” in the ring.
Critics have long questioned the level of opposition Ennis faced throughout his career, arguing that the accolades surrounding him outweighed the quality of his resume. A dominant victory over Zayas would be one of the strongest responses to these concerns.
Whittaker mostly faced opponents who wanted to fight on his terms. Zayas are not built that way. The 23-year-old prefers to box with the jab, create angles and reset his opponents. For Ennis, this may mean fewer opportunities for entertainment and more emphasis on solving the puzzle in front of him.
If not, the conversation around Ennis may remain unchanged.
Whittaker was largely allowed to dictate the terms of his fights. On June 27, Ennis will be tasked with doing something more hard: imposing his style on an opponent whose game plan is based on denying that freedom.
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