Jaron 'Boots' Ennis just solidified his reign in the super-welterweight division, claiming both the WBO and WBA World titles after his big win against Xander Zayas on June 27, 2026, in New York City. Now, with two shiny belts around his waist, Ennis is already looking past the celebration and straight to what's next for his career. The man doesn't mince words, and his post-fight chat with Ring Magazine's panel gave us a clear look into his mindset, his unique style, and exactly where he's headed.
Family Built a Champion, But "Boots" Is Crafting His Own Way
You know a fighter's got that extra edge when the whole family lives and breathes the sport. Ennis made it clear that his fighting family is a massive part of his success. "It adds a lot to my game," he said, crediting his brothers and dad, all former fighters who've been on "the highest stages possible." He trusts their eyes completely, stating, "whatever they say, I do. Because I know they see something I can’t see." That kind of deep-rooted wisdom and guidance, that's invaluable. But while his family provides the foundation, Ennis is building something completely his own. He calls himself a "boxer-puncher," but that's just the start. He's got this insane confidence, saying, "I really do what I want, for real. I can do whatever I want in the ring." And he backs it up, reminding everyone that "each and every fight I’m giving ya’ll something different." We saw "some dog work" in the Zayas fight, a "first round knockout" before that, and pure "boxing and moving and not getting hit" when he fought Stanionis. His self-assessment? "I feel like I’m a variety bag of chips. Whatever you want, you have." Talk about a challenge to the rest of the division, right? He's basically saying he's got all the tools and he'll pick the one that messes up his opponent most.Frustration Boils and Undisputed Is the Only Goal
It's not all smooth sailing, even for a champ. Ennis didn't hide his frustration over the constant Vergil Ortiz questions, especially since he can't actually *make* that fight happen himself. "Everybody ask me about it all the time," he explained, feeling like he "did my part" when he thought the fight was set after Ortiz fought Lubin. This isn't just about talk, either. Ennis revealed he technically "trained for five months for Zayas" because his opponent kept switching for planned fights in March, April, and May before landing on Zayas. That's a brutal camp for nothing! Then there's the shadow of Terence Crawford. Ennis admitted wanting that fight, along with legends like Errol Spence, Thurman, and Shawn Porter "back then," but he was branded "high risk/low reward" throughout his career. Crawford even threw "some shade," but Ennis is taking it as a passing of the torch. "Let that man be happily retired. He said what he said and it’s the Boots’ era," Ennis declared. He believes "everything happens for a reason" and that this is "perfect timing" for him to dominate. Right now, his mission is laser-focused: "My task is belts…I got two belts in this division and my goal is to be undisputed and that’s what I’m going to do. So bring on these next champions." He's got two, and he's not stopping until he's got all of them. The super-welterweight division just got a huge challenge, and Ennis is ready to collect.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.