Boxing
Jaron Ennis sharply criticizes critics ahead of his fight with Xander Zayas on June 27
“Clown Dawg”
“Clowns damn you all say and do everything š We blocked LOADING CHAMPIONS 2 WEIGHT UNIFIED #ANDTHENEW on June 27,” Ennis wrote on Twitter X.
The undefeated former welterweight champion is increasing his weight after compiling a 35-0 record with 31 knockouts at 147 pounds. A victory over Zayas would make Ennis the unified second division champions.
Ennis didn’t mention specific people in his post, but much of the online discussion around him lately has centered around comparisons to Terence Crawford and the debate over whether the two should have fought earlier in their careers.
The discussion about Crawford continues
Fans who reacted to Ennis’ post were quick to turn the discussion back to the retired 38-year-old Crawford, with some urging Ennis to continue this fight after the Zayas fight.
Crawford previously dismissed comparisons between himself and Ennis, responding to the praise directed at the Philadelphia player.
Despite the outside chatter, Ennis has made it clear that his attention is on June 27 and the chance to immediately become the unified 154-pound titleholder.
āLoading champions with unified weight 2,ā Ennis wrote.
The fight with Zayas will be Ennis’ biggest fight since leaving the welterweight division and moving up to bigger fights in the junior middleweight division.
The fight also has major implications for the future of the junior middleweight division, as Ennis immediately became one of the biggest names in the 154-pound division after his victory over Zayas.
A victory would likely boost pressure on future fights involving Crawford and other top fighters who already compete in the division or are planning moves there.
For now, Ennis says his attention is entirely on Zayas and the chance to leave Brooklyn with unified second-league stripes.
Filip Hrgovic questions how Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have earned a fight for the WBA āSuperā heavyweight title, arguing that attaching the belt to their matchup damages boxingās credibility.
The fight already has two recognizable names and a rivalry that can sell without a championship. Adding a world title invites a different question: what have either manās recent performances done to justify that reward?
āThey are both big superstars, but how are they fighting for a title?ā Hrgovic told The Stomping Ground when asked about the proposed WBA title stakes. āWhere did that come from? ā¦ These kinds of decisions, itās killing the sport. Itās not good for the sport. And because of these funny decisions, people donāt consider boxing a serious sport.ā
Fury and Joshua already have the recognition to sell their fight. Their rivalry is the attraction. Adding the WBAās highest heavyweight title gives the event a sporting endorsement that requires more explanation than either manās name can provide.
Gassievās position makes that harder to justify. With him holding the regular championship, the proposed title stakes would allow Fury and Joshua to fight for superior recognition within the same organization without going through its existing titleholder. What, then, is Gassievās belt supposed to mean?
That is the weakness of the WBAās multiple-title structure. A fighter can hold its championship and still watch a more commercially attractive pairing receive the bigger prize. The distinction becomes difficult to defend if the organization cannot explain the sporting criteria behind it.
There is also a financial question worth asking. Sanctioning a major event can benefit the organization collecting the fees. That makes a clear explanation of eligibility especially necessary: what qualifies Fury and Joshua for this opportunity, and how does Gassiev fit into the decision?
Hrgovic has his own interests. He wants recognition as the divisionās best champion and would benefit from undermining rival claims. But his objection still demands an answer.
Fans can enjoy Fury-Joshua as a major occasion without treating it as the fight that establishes heavyweight supremacy. The WBA risks blurring that distinction by attaching its highest title to a matchup whose appeal is already secure.
The rivalry gives the promotion something valuable to sell. The championship should represent something the fighters have earned.
Audley Harrison believes the Deontay Wilder who terrorized the heavyweight division is gone as the American closes in on a potential final dance with Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News, Harrison backed the proposed Usyk-Wilder showdown as a fitting final fight for both former champions.
WBN understands March 2027 is being targeted, with Las Vegas currently the number-one choice to stage the fight.
Wilder kept himself in contention by defeating Derek Chisora, while Usyk has cleared the way for one final fight after relinquishing his sanctioning body heavyweight championships.
āDeontay has carried the flag for USA heavyweights for a decade, and heās coming to the end of a great career,ā Harrison exclusively told WBN.
āHe gutted out the win over Chisora, so finishing with a big payday and match up makes sense. Heās not going to be excited facing an upcoming champ, and heās not in line to get a championship fight, so this one makes sense.ā
The Old Bronze Bomber Is Gone
Harrison is far less optimistic about Wilderās chances of actually beating Usyk.
Wilderās right hand carried him through ten successful defenses of the WBC heavyweight title and made him one of the most feared punchers of his generation.
Harrison, who lost to Wilder in one round as the Tuscaloosa puncher made his way toward becoming world champion, doesnāt believe that version of the KO artist exists anymore.
āI donāt think Wilder has the technical knowhow, or the tactical lens from his team that will give him a shot at winning,ā Harrison said.
āThe old Bronze Bomber has gone now, so whatās left is a gutsy former champion, looking for another dance partner to showcase whatās left.
āWe saw with the Chisora fight that Wilder is still as game as they come, but the knockout power in his right hand is not there, so hopefully Usyk is talking the fight as his swan song too, and they donāt go all out.
āMany sports (football, cricket, Tennis, Golf and many more) have testimonials when the sports people retire, so why canāt boxing and the boxers have the same endings.ā
Usyk and Wilderās Legacies
Harrison also believes both men belong in the International Boxing Hall of Fame once their careers are over.
āFor me, this generation has not been as technically or tactically gifted as Hall of Fame boxers from the past,ā Harrison said.
āThe old school boxers were taught to box and had far more skills, IQ and technical abilities.
āI do think Usyk skills and boxing IQ is a close match to champs of the past, so he will definitely make the Hall of Fame.
āWilder, I think he will make it too (although not technically masterful) ā¦ He represented USA boxing with distinction coming up & he was destroying everyone all the way to a title, which he held for 5 years.ā
Nothing has been finalized for Usyk-Wilder, although WBN understands a spring clash is on the cards and Dana White could be involved.
WBN previously reported that White was asked directly whether Usyk could finish his career under the Zuffa Boxing banner and whether Wilder could be the opponent.
āAnything is possible,ā White replied to both.
For Harrison, the fight makes sense even if he believes Wilderās most dangerous weapon has deserted him.
The old Bronze Bomber may be gone, but one last dance with Usyk could still be waiting.
Join Audley Harrison on Substack for more boxing views.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jayās full bio and latest stories.
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