A unification world title clash tops the bill in New York this week as Jaron Ennis takes on Xander Zayas at the Barclays Center.
Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs) is the defending WBA or WBO super welterweight world champion, while Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) looks to pick up world honours in a second division, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
The Puerto Rican won his first world title last year when he beat Jorge Garcia Perez over 12 rounds to claim the vacant WBO crown at super welterweight.
In his next outing, Zayas unified that belt with the WBA world title against defending champion Abass Baraou, whom he beat by split decision in January.
Coming into Saturday’s contest, which will be the first defence of both belts, he is unbeaten with 13 stoppage victories since turning professional in 2019.
He takes on what should be the toughest test of his professional career in ‘Boots’, who is also unbeaten heading into the contest.
In his last fight at welterweight, Ennis unified the IBF and WBA belts.
He made light work of defending champion Eimantas Stanionis, stopping him in the sixth round.
He has fought just once at super welterweight. In October last year, he took on Uisma Lima, whom he stopped in the first round in Philadelphia.
Prediction: Ennis may prove to be too skilled and should secure a points win.
Emiliano Vargas vs Bryce Mills
Rising super lightweight star Emiliano Vargas returns to the ring on Saturday as he looks to add to his perfect record before aiming for world honours.
Vargas (17-0, 14 KOs) takes on New York-based fighter Bryce Mills (22-1, 9 KOs), who has lost just once in his career, a defeat that came early in his professional run.
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‘El General’ has an impressive knockout ratio of over 80%, and the 22-year-old will look to make a real statement on such a major card.
Prediction: Vargas should have enough to add another stoppage to his resume.
Ben Whittaker vs Richard Rivera
Ben Whittaker makes his stateside debut against Richard Rivera.
Whittaker (11-0-1, 8 KOs) comes off back-to-back first-round stoppage wins over Benjamin Galvani and Braian Suarez.
‘The Surgeon’ has never been beaten, although his first fight against Liam Cameron in 2024 ended in a draw after an injury forced the contest to be stopped. He stopped Cameron in the second round of their rematch six months later.
Rivera (27-2, 20 KOs) lost on a split decision to Badou Jack in 2022 and has won twice since a second professional defeat in 2024.
Prediction: Whittaker should pick up another statement stoppage win against Rivera.
Remaining Undercard
Jahi Tucker vs Euri Cedeno could prove to be the fight of the night at middleweight as the pair clash over 10 rounds.
Cedeno (14-0-1, 12 KOs) is unbeaten, while Tucker’s only defeat came via majority decision against Nicklaus Flaz.
Prediction: Tucker (16-1-1, 7 KOs) could just edge it over the distance in what should be a very well-matched fight.
Quincy Williams (6-0, 6 KOs) should stop Jerome Baxter (8-1, 3 KOs), while Dennis Thompson (10-0, 6 KOs) will likely pick up the seventh knockout victory of his professional career against Edwin Rodriguez (12-11-3, 5 KOs).
To kick off the card, Juanma Lopez De Jesus (5-0, 2 KOs) should cruise to his first professional victory against Alberto Motos (6-2).
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