On Saturday, Jaron Ennis attempts to become a unified world champion in a second division as he collides with Puerto Rico’s WBA and WBO ruler Xander Zayas.
Ennis was elevated to IBF welterweight champion in late 2023 and defended that belt against both David Avanesyan and Karen Chukhadzhian, before a brutal beatdown of then WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis saw him add another strap to his collection.
The Philadelphian then decided to move up to 154lbs and made a statement upon his divisional debut, when he dispatched of Portugal’s Uisma Lima in the opening round of their October clash to claim the WBA Interim title.
Since then, Ennis was once again been linked to a long-awaited scrap with fellow super-welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr, but he instead signed to challenge for Zayas’ throne because of Ortiz’s ongoing dispute with Golden Boy Promotions.
In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ennis revealed that, if he overcomes Zayas, Ortiz is not necessarily his next target, with his attention purely on whoever is in possession of the belts.
“We are not looking past Xander Zayas at all, but if I am victorious on Saturday and I bring home these two belts, it [my next goal] is undisputed. If we can get the next champion in the ring, whether that is [Sebastian] Fundora or [Josh] Kelly, it could be Ortiz.
“My goal right now is just to clean out this whole division one by one.”
It is believed that Fundora may soon be ordered to face Ortiz, who holds the WBC Interim title, whilst Josh Kelly is expected to defend his IBF super-welterweight world title against Caoimhin Agyarko on Anthony Joshua’s undercard next month.
