However, on this night, it was only class and professionalism post-fight.
In a non-stop action dustup, former unified welterweight champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis secured the WBO/WBA super welterweight titles in a back-and-forth war against defending champion Xander Zayas.
Ennis dropped Zayas in the 1st round. In the 3rd, Zayas appeared to be working (or warring) his way back into the fight with some solid shots that got Ennis’ attention.
However, in the 5th round, a perfectly timed uppercut snapped Zayas’ head back, dropping him. Ennis, clearly buzzed, waited until 9 before he rose. Zayas moved and hugged and somehow survived the round. However, despite Zayas showing a heart the size of Texas, the tide seemed to have turned, and the end seemed a matter of time.
Round 7 saw Ennis pouring on the pressure, and Zayas had to take a knee. The fight was stopped at 1:49 of the round, with Zayas offering little argument. The better man (on this night) had won and he respectfully accepted that.
What happened next is something that will indeed endear both fighters to fans. If there was ever a live theatre for excuses, it is the immediate post-fight interview of a beaten boxer.
With everything from ‘the referee stopped it too soon’ to ‘the weight cut is what got me’, the script rarely points the finger at the 2nd place finisher if the losing fighter has anything to say about it.
However, on this night, it was only class and professionalism post-fight.
While Ennis was celebrating his victory, he was quick to congratulate and praise Zayas for his efforts. And, while Zayas was obviously disappointed, he offered no excuses beyond the fact that Ennis was the better man on this night.
Zayas simply accepted defeat with class and dignity.
He may have lost this fight on this night, but his reputation remains undefeated. Fans will admire and praise his gutsy effort and will look forward to
his ring return.
In a post-fight interview, Zayas showed why, despite losing his titles, he is still a champion.
“Thank you for everyone who showed up. I thought I could get my legs back and come back a little bit better. You learn and you come back better”, he said
Asked if he would move up to 160, Zayas replied, “I don’t want to make an excuse and say I am going to move up and say that is why I lost the fight. He beat me, I lost the fight fair and square. I don’t want to make any excuses. He won like a champion that he is
and I lost like the gentlemen that I am”, he said. “He won the fight; he did what he needed to do”.
This is all-class, folks. Often too rare in boxing, but not on this night. Zayas may have lost this bout, but he leaves the ring a winner.
For Boots, the new WBO/WBA champion, he eyes whatever his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has lined up for him. Unification fights with Britain’s IBF champ Josh Kelly or California’s WBA boss Sebastian Fundora seem in order.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is now 36-0, 32 KOs, and the new WBO/WBA super welterweight champion. Zayas is now 23-1, 13.
Two great fighters, one great fight.