It doesn’t get much better than Zayas vs. Boots on a Saturday night in New York City.
Add to that mouthwatering matchup two unbeaten records and a near sell-out Brooklyn Center — filled by traveling Puerto Rican and Philadelphian faithful — and it’s hard not to earmark this unified super welterweight fight as a potential Fight of the Year candidate.
And if you still need convincing that this weekend’s boxing action is still worth a watch, then appearances from Ben Whittaker and Emiliano Vargas should tick any remaining boxes. Let’s take a look at some of the best of the upcoming action across the globe.
This is super welterweight at its absolute best — and, if we’re being honest, a fight few expected to materialize so soon.
Rather than protecting pristine records or waiting for an even bigger payday, Xander Zayas and Jaron “Boots” Ennis have agreed to meet in a Brooklyn blockbuster, putting their unbeaten records on the line in one of the year’s most compelling matchups.
At just 23 years old, Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) arrives as the champion. The Puerto Rican claimed the WBO and WBA super welterweight titles across his last two outings, cementing his status as arguably the most accomplished boxer under the age of 25.
Yet belts alone are no guarantee of divisional supremacy. With the likes of Sebastian Fundora and Vergil Ortiz Jr. also staking their claims, beating Ennis would elevate Zayas from titleholder to the clear man to beat at 154 pounds.
Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs), meanwhile, is making just his second appearance at the weight after relinquishing his welterweight titles. His super welterweight debut lasted only a single round as he blasted aside Uisma Lima last October, offering little insight into how he’d fare against genuine elite opposition.
For years, “Boots” has been touted as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound talents. Against Zayas, he finally has the opportunity to validate that reputation against a reigning world champion in his physical prime.
Numerous Brits have tried, and failed, to break into America.
Blur? Robbie Williams? Hell, even The Jam struggled to break through over the pond. Light heavyweight Ben Whittaker will be adamant not to join this list as he embarks on his U.S. debut.
The eccentric 29-year-old is 11-0-1 (8 KOs) since turning pro, and now after being given the big push by Matchroom Boxing is attempting to crash the 175-pound scene at the money end of the division.
He’s been handed a relative dud on Saturday: Connecticut’s “Popeye the Sailor Man” Richard Rivera, who is 27-2 (20 KOs) and approaching his 36th birthday. Whittaker’s plan will be to look good, look flashy and convert a few fans to his arrogant and entertaining style of fighting.
In the second edition of the failing segment “Watson’s Pick of the Weekend” we’re having a little look at Bryce Mills (22-1, 9 KOs) as a huge -1400 underdog against Emiliano Vargas.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Watson, you’re crazy and so cool and handsome,” and I accept these charges, but would an upset victory for Mills really be that spectacular?
Mills is on a good run at super lightweight and at 24 years old is very active (fighting five times since last March). Emiliano Vargas (17-0, 14 KOs) has been given a big push, but without a solid defense behind him looks like an accident waiting to happen.
He’ll probably shut me up on Saturday night — fighting on the Zayas-Boots undercard with a handful of trinket titles up for grabs — but stranger things have happened in this sport.
Despite turning 43 years old in October, Jean Pascal (37-8-1, 21 KOs) continues his run of fighting once a year this weekend, for the fifth year running!
The former light heavyweight king goes in against Francis Lafreniere (21-7-2, 11 KOs) for the WBC’s interim title at cruiserweight in Quebec, Canada, and the Haitian-born Canadian is fired up for his return.
“Back at the top of the food chain,” Pascal wrote on Instagram Stories. “They underestimated me. They forgot about me. But the top … that’s where I live.”
Pascal has gone 2-2 since his 2022 return, and despite his age is rightly touted as the favorite coming into Saturday night’s next chapter, adding another layer of confusion to the cruiserweight division.
The fifth best thing to watch this weekend in boxing is your phone.
Why? Because you won’t have a barrage of text messages coming through asking you when Floyd Mayweather is fighting, why Floyd Mayweather is fighting, and who Floyd Mayweather is fighting.
I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one either.
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