Boxing

Top rank won’t risk Zayas against “Boots” Ennis

Published

1 year ago

October 16, 2025

Image: Zayas Grades His Performance a "B+" After Lackluster Title Win Against Jorge Garcia

Trainer Stephen Edwards doesn’t believe Top Rank will risk his fighter Xander Zayas to defend his WBO junior middleweight title against Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Edwards argues that while Zayas (22-0, 13 KO) is technically a world champion at 154 years elderly, he is still only 23 years elderly compared to 28-year-old “Boots” Ennis. He has no experience for such fights.

Top ranking – play safe and sound with Zayas

Top Rank has not revealed what its long-term goal for Xander is. They will probably protect him throughout his career and try to keep him at the top as long as possible until Turki Alalshikh offers Zayes crazy money to fight someone good.

“You wouldn’t risk Zayas against Ennis. ‘Boots’ would now be the favorite to beat Zayas at 5, minus 600,” said Stephen Edwards MillCity Boxing that Top Rank is not a good idea to let their fighter, Xander Zayas, face Jaron Ennis.

Ennis vs. Zayas would be a disaster

On paper, fighting “Boots” would be a disaster for Xander now or at any time in the future. These are two different types of warriors. Talent-wise, Zayas is like a fringe contender who was tricked into winning the vacant WBO 154-pound belt. He is a champion in name only.

Produced champion?

If he had to fight someone like Ennis or any of the belt holders or top contenders, he would probably get knocked down. I see Xander as a classic example of creation for marketing purposes. He’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t fight anyone with skill.

“You don’t put a kid that newborn into a fight with a guy that good. Top Rank has the best matchmakers in the business. They’ve been around too long not to know that ‘Boots’ is a level above Zayas. They’re not stupid,” Stephen said.

Turki Money can change everything

It’s doubtful that Top Rank would ever make a fight between Zayas and “Boots” Ennis without Turki Alalshikh getting involved and offering crazy money like we saw with Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford last month on 9/11.

Top Rank wants to make Xander a star on the East Coast and turn him into a money-making machine. To do that, they need to keep him away from players like Ennis, Fundora, Abass Baraou, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Bakhram Murtazaliev and Erickson Lubin. Zayas would probably lose to all of them.

“Bakhram would be the toughest fight in terms of danger. He’s the biggest hitter, has the most one-shot power of the four champions and has good counter punches,” Edwards said of his belief that Bakhram Murtazaliev would be a formidable foe for Ennis.

Promoter Eddie Hearn didn’t sound like he wanted IBF junior middleweight champion Murtazaliev to take Ennis’ place after his first-round knockout victory over Uisma Lima last Saturday. Hearn has talked about wanting WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. in early 2026. If not him, then Sebastian Fundora.

Sean Jones has been grinding boxing media since 2008 and joined Boxing News 24 in 2011. He lives in Great Britain, but reports from all over the world. He engages in crucial fights – from champions to hungry prospects.

Known for his no-nonsense shots and ring presence, Sean presents fans with a raw image rather than a polished press release.

Last update: 16/10/2025

Boxing

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Live Round-by-Round Updates and Results

Published

2 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Live Round-by-Round Updates and Results

Sebastian Fundora will return to action tonight, defending his WBC super welterweight title against Ermal Hadribaj in a main event that will air live on TNT as well as stream on DAZN.

Fundora has staked his claim as the top dog at 154 lbs right now, though there are other, potentially tougher challenges than Hadribeaj, but the challenger has his chance tonight, and he’ll look to make it count.

UPDATE (2:35 pm ET): The fight between Brandon Figueroa and Tomoki Kameda has been officially canceled. Figueroa lost his WBA featherweight title on the scales yesterday, then fell ill overnight.

Wil Esco will lead the live coverage this evening, with live results and updates for the two main card undercard bouts, then round-by-round results and updates for the main event. Join us!

How to Watch Fundora vs Hadribeaj

Streaming: DAZN (subscription)

Location: The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV, USA

Fundora vs Hadribeaj full card lineup

Boxing

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Start Time and Live Results

Published

3 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj: Start Time and Live Results"

Sebastian Fundora defends his WBC super welterweight title against Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, with the card starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT / 1 a.m. BST Sunday. TNT and DAZN broadcast the fight live.

Updated Oct 14, 2026, 4:34 am EDT

FIGHT DAY! Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj

Sebastian Fundora

Ermal Hadribaj

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Venue: The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
Card starts: 8:00 pm EDT / 1:00 am BST (Sun, Oct 18 in the UK)
Expected ring walks: 11:00 pm EDT / 4:00 am BST (Sun, Oct 18 in the UK)
Weight class: super welterweight
Scheduled distance: 12 rounds

Live results will appear here on fight night.

Sebastian Fundora vs Ermal Hadribeaj
WBC super welterweight title.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Tomoki Kameda bout is now off after Figueroa fell ill overnight.

Armando Reséndiz vs Koen Mazoudier
Super middleweight, 10 rounds.

Marco Romero vs Braulio Ferreira
Super middleweight, eight rounds.

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Boxing

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

Published

6 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch: Live Results and Fight Updates

By Boxing News 24 Desk – 10/17/2026 – Comments

Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Wardley on DAZN PPV at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, October 17.

Fabio Wardley gets another crack at Daniel Dubois five months after dropping him twice but losing their first fight. Dubois recovered to stop Wardley in the 11th round in Manchester.

UPCOMING

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley

2026-10-17 · 14:00 ET / 7:00 PM UK · O2 Arena, London · Live on DAZN

Daniel Dubois0

AFTER0ROUNDS

Fabio Wardley0

ROUNDDaniel DuboisFabio Wardley

Wardley returns as the challenger. Dubois makes his first defence against the heavyweight he dethroned in May, with DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate Tier carrying the rematch.

Start Time and Ring Walks

Coverage starts at 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

Dubois and Wardley are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT. All times fall on Saturday, October 17.

DAZN PPV Price

The standalone PPV costs £24.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the USincluding the undercard and main event.

DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers receive the event without a separate PPV purchase.

Full Fight Card, Weigh-In Results and Expected Times

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

WBO heavyweight title

Dubois: 253.9 lbs (115.17 kg) | Wardley: 248.3 lbs (112.63 kg)

Expected ring walks: 10:30 pm BST / 5:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm PT

Louie O’Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr.

British and Commonwealth lightweight titles

O’Doherty: 134.12 lbs (60.84 kg) | Gomez Jr.: 134.3 lbs (60.92 kg)

Approximate start: 9:30 pm BST / 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT

Adam Olaniyan vs Dan Garber

Heavyweight

Olaniyan: 250.15 lbs (113.47 kg) | Garber: 223.15 lbs (101.22 kg)

Approximate start: 9:10 pm BST / 4:10 pm ET / 1:10 pm PT

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres

Heavyweight

Jalolov: 255.12 lbs (115.72 kg) | Dacres: 242.9 lbs (110.18 kg)

Approximate start: 8:10 pm BST / 3:10 pm ET / 12:10 pm PT

Nelson Birchall vs Levi Gilles

Approximate start: 7:10 pm BST / 2:10 pm ET / 11:10 am PT

Image: Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley Rematch Live Results and Fight Updates

Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 on DAZN

About the author

Boxing News 24 Desk

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.