Former lightweight contender Jamaine Ortiz has publicly backed Xander Zayas in his upcoming showdown with WBA and WBO junior middleweight champion Jaron Ennis, dismissing predictions of a knockout victory for the champion.
“I’m favoring Xander 100%,” Ortiz told MillCity Boxing. “I just see his work ethic, and he got a great coach, too. I think he’s going to be able to pull it off.”
While acknowledging Ennis as a skilled and crafty opponent, Ortiz argued that many overlook Zayas’ abilities.
“A lot of people underestimate Xander’s abilities,” Ortiz said. “They’re going more for the flashy stuff, what they see with Boots, and they’re putting more weight on the flashiness than the actual efficiency of Xander.”
Ortiz emphasized that Zayas’ physical development since turning professional has been underestimated, noting that athletes continues to grow into their mid-to-late twenties.
“You talk about 16 — those are your growing years. Men, you keep growing till you’re like 26, 28. He’s still young. He’s still going to keep growing,” Ortiz explained.
He also highlighted Zayas’ technical foundation as a key strength.
“I think he’s actually able to move a lot and have good pivots and stuff like that,” Ortiz said. “His fundamentals are spot on.”
When asked for his final prediction, Ortiz was decisive: “I’m going to say unanimous.”
The highly anticipated matchup between Ennis and Zayas is scheduled for June 27 on DAZN PPV, following years of fan demand for the unbeaten rivals to collide.
