Boxing
Xander Zayas risks unified 154-pound titles against Jaron “Boots” Ennis
Published
2 months agoon
Xander Zayas will dare to achieve even more as he defends his world titles against Jaron “Boots” Ennis in an eye-catching super welterweight clash this summer.
The June 27 fight will bring together one of boxing’s youngest unified champions and a fighter considered by many to be the toughest challenge at 154 pounds.
Zayas (23-0, 13 KO) unified the titles in January in Puerto Rico after defeating Abass Baraou by split decision, becoming the youngest unified champion in the sport and the first Puerto Rican to unify at the weight.
The 23-year-old now returns to Novel York for his ninth appearance in the city, returning less than a year after winning his first world title at The Theater at Madison Square Garden when he dominated Jorge Garcia to capture the vacant WBO belt.
Zayas is moving forward
Many champions ponderous down once they reach the top. Zayas seems determined to do the opposite.
After winning the WBO title and unifying shortly thereafter, the Puerto Rican star once again steps right into a perilous fight against a man widely viewed as one of the most perilous opponents at 154 pounds.
“Long before I became world champion,” Zayas said. “I have always strived to face the biggest challenges in my division. I have never shied away from a fight and have always been ready to test my skills against anyone.
“Now, as unified champion, I am ready to defend my world titles against one of the biggest names in the sport. I have always believed in myself and on June 27, I will continue to show the world what is possible when you dare to be great!”
Ennis Eyes Instant effect
For Ennis (35-0, 31 KO), the fight in Brooklyn is a chance to immediately settle in a modern division.
The Philadelphia star unified the welterweight titles in April with a dominant victory over Eimantas Stanionis, adding the WBA belt to his IBF crown.
After moving seven pounds from 147 pounds, Ennis wasted no time in signaling his intentions, stopping Uisma Lima in the round to capture the WBA interim title.
The victory over Zayas means Ennis will become the unified champion of the second weight division.
This also follows the failure of the previously discussed Vergil Ortiz fight, leaving Ennis looking forward to a win that will strengthen his position in future negotiations at the weight.
“It’s time to step in and take back those belts!” Ennis said. “Knocking them down one by one. And modern!”
Gameplay in Brooklyn
The fight will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a venue that has hosted several major boxing events over the past decade.
“What a fight!” said Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn. “I’m thrilled to give Jaron this fight – it’s exactly the kind of opportunity that brings the best out of the future number one in the weight division pound for pound.
“Boots shined so glowing against Stanionis in Atlantic City in his first unification fight, and I expect him to lightweight up Brooklyn on June 27.
“But Xander is an exceptional fighter and he deserves a lot of credit for wanting to fight the best.”
Top President Todd duBoef added: “We signed Xander at age 16 and have witnessed his growth into the sport’s youngest current unified champion and a rising superstar.
“Competing against the best has always been Xander’s priority, and ‘Boots’ Ennis takes another step towards proving greatness in only his second title defense.”
The collapse of the Ortiz fight briefly derailed Ennis’ immediate plans, but becoming the unified champion at 154 pounds keeps the division moving and puts two of the summer’s most perilous youthful fighters on the same stage.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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“Well, you never know. You know what I mean? I think he can make that weight if he wants to,” Prince told Fighthype about the fight between Shakur and Haney.
“But like I told him, Shakur weighs 135 pounds. They weigh 147. So out of 12 pounds, we’re willing to take eight. We’re not even saying we’ll meet halfway.”
“So you never know. I don’t count them because certain numbers often change a person’s mind, right? You never know.”
Prince also said there are ongoing discussions about Stevenson fighting next after recently winning the WBO 140-pound welterweight title.
“It’s up in the air. We’re regrouping. We’re planning again and people will know about it very soon,” Prince said.
Shakur moved up earlier this year and defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO 140-pound title. Stevenson already held titles in three weight classes before moving up to 140.
Haney continued competing at welterweight after moving up from 140 pounds following fights against Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios.
Prince also mentioned undefeated lightweight title challenger Abdullah Mason, who returns to his hometown of Cleveland this month.
“I’m excited, first of all, that Abdullah Mason is fighting at home,” Prince said.
“I have a long history with Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, the entire Midwest was one of the first to embrace my Rap-A-Lot movement.
“They should be really proud of their child.”

Boxing
Tony Bellew explains why Fabio Wardley was right not to throw in the towel against Dubois
Published
3 hours agoon
May 15, 2026
After Saturday’s heavyweight classic, one of the key topics of conversation was whether Fabio Wardley’s corner should have pulled his man out earlier, and former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew shared his view on the matter.
Wardley defended his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois, but despite two early knockdowns starting in the seventh round, it quickly became clear that the champion was fading.
With Dubois attacking and attacking, the once even fight slowly became one-sided, and after two doctor checks and continued attacking, referee Howard Foster finally intervened in round 11.
While many viewers questioned whether manager Ben Davison should have saved Wardley from an unnecessary penalty, Bellew defended the coach during a TV interview Fight Your Corner Podcast.
“I’m not like many others. I don’t think it should have been stopped earlier. I think the referee did a great job. I don’t think the towel should have been thrown in earlier for the straightforward reason that Fabio Wardley has already shown on many occasions, that he never takes him out of a fight.
“Even if he’s miles behind, even if he’s been injured in a fight, he can pull his hand out of the bag at any time, and for that reason alone, that’s why he should have been allowed to continue playing.
“This is the reason why players like Arturo Gatti were able to continue playing against players like Micky Ward. With his neck up against the ropes and getting punched in the face regularly and Frank Cappuccino [referee] let’s leave it alone, it’s because of the history it has. So they allowed this fight to continue and in my opinion they were right.
“You’ll never make fights truly magical unless you allow the carnage to unfold.”
After a precautionary check-up at a nearby hospital, it was confirmed that Wardley was not seriously injured in the fight. The Ipswich fan favorite could now act his rematch clause and will try to take revenge for the first defeat in his professional career, becoming a two-time heavyweight ruler.
Boxing
Bobby Has escaped disaster time and time again – then cancer changed his face
Published
3 hours agoon
May 15, 2026
Former two-division world champion Bobby Czyz has spent most of his life somehow coping with situations that could easily have killed him.
Now, at the age of 63, Czyz faces another brutal battle after being diagnosed with aggressive squamous cell cancer of his right nostril and neck.
The surgeries necessary to remove the cancer left the former boxing star with a severe facial disfigurement and extensive scarring on his face and nose.
Photos shared publicly by Czyż during his recovery surprised many boxing fans, who remembered him as one of the toughest champions of the sport in the 1980s and 1990s.
But even now, the Novel Jersey striker still sounds like a fighter.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Czyż wrote under one of the restoration photos. “We can all rise up.”
This mentality accompanied him through almost every stage of his life.
Bobby Czyz has avoided disaster time and time again
Long before winning the world title, Czyz narrowly avoided one of boxing’s darkest tragedies.
In 1980, members of the United States amateur boxing team died on board Polish Airlines LOT 007 in a crash near Warsaw.
Was it supposed to be part of the trip? He only avoided boarding the plane because he was recovering from injuries suffered in a car accident.
Escape has become one of the defining “what if?” moments of his life.
Czyz eventually turned professional and became a two-weight world champion, winning the IBF delicate heavyweight title and later winning the WBA cruiserweight crown.
Known as “The Matinee Idol,” Czyż (44-8, 28 KO) fought in the ring with names such as Evander Holyfield, Virgil Hill, Charles Williams and Corrie Sanders in an era full of threatening fighters.
But the punishment in the ropes wasn’t the only trauma he experienced.
In 2007, Czyz was rescued from a burning vehicle after another terrible car accident, which left him with sedate facial injuries.
Now, almost two decades later, cancer has forced him to fight again.
The boxing world is rooting for Bobby Czyż
Friends and figures from the boxing world have already begun to rally around the former champion as he continues his rehabilitation.
Nick Furris wrote: “Good friend, boxing icon and three-time champion Bobby Czyż will fight the biggest fight of his life.
“Out of nowhere, Bobby was diagnosed with nose and neck cancer.
“I spoke to him today and he is in good spirits after the surgery, but he has a long road ahead of him.
“For those who have seen him fight or know him, please take a moment and say a prayer. Knowing Bobby, if there is one SOB who can beat ‘C’, it will be him.”
In 2026, Czyz explained her cancer discovery in an interview with The What’s Next Kid (thewhatsnextkid) on Instagram.
He said: “One morning I woke up with a lump in my nose. The doctors said it was a polyp with cancer.
“Now I have to go through all these surgeries to try and look even remotely cute again.”
For many boxing fans, images of Czyz barely resemble the fighter they watched during his championship years.
But the mindset still is.
After surviving boxing, a plane crash, devastating crashes and now cancer surgery, Bobby Czyz is still trying to rise again.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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