Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has officially entered boxing’s elite, debuting at No. 9 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings. His entry follows a seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas on Saturday, a victory that unified the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles.
The win extended Ennis’s perfect record to 36-0, with 32 of those victories coming by knockout. It was a methodical performance from the Philadelphia native, who has now won world titles in two different weight classes. After losing the opening rounds to the previously unbeaten Zayas, Ennis adjusted and steadily took control of the fight. He consistently landed sharp right hands and combinations that broke his opponent down through the middle rounds. The sustained pressure resulted in a seventh-round knockdown, prompting Zayas’s corner to halt the contest. This was the strongest win on his resume, proving he could overcome early adversity against a fellow champion.
The Ring magazine, which updates its rankings periodically rather than after every major fight, immediately recognized the achievement. Its official summary confirmed the new hierarchy. According to the report: ” Ennis has broken into The Ring’s updated pound-for-pound rankings following his seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas on Saturday night to unify the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles.
The publication placed Ennis at No. 9 in its latest top-10 list, one spot ahead of Oscar Collazo. Naoya Inoue retained the No. 1 position, followed by Oleksandr Usyk, Shakur Stevenson, Jesse “. The immediate inclusion is a significant endorsement of his performance and new status as a unified champion.
Now holding two belts in a talent-loaded junior middleweight division, Ennis is a primary target. His next logical challenge involves unification fights against the remaining champions to pursue undisputed status. The ranking itself has already generated debate among boxing fans, with many arguing he should already be placed ahead of No. 8 ranked Devin Haney. Others have questioned Shakur Stevenson’s high position at No. 3 following his recent move to a new division. This discussion confirms Ennis is no longer just a feared contender. He is a central figure whose every move will be measured against the best in the sport. His path forward is clear: more belts and bigger names.
