Xander Zayas vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis fight predictions, odds, undercard for title showdown in Brooklyn
Jaron "Boots" Ennis has long been considered one of the top young fighters in boxing, but opportunities for fights on the level of his talent have not yet materialized. On Saturday, Ennis will look to become a world champion in the second weight class of his career when he faces unified junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas, with the hopes that picking up titles in one of boxing's deepest divisions leads to even bigger fights.
Ennis (35-0, 31 KO) won the interim IBF welterweight championship in a fight with Karen Chukhadzhian in January 2023 before being promoted to full champion. He picked up successful title defenses against Roiman Villa, David Avanesyan and in a rematch with Chukhadzhian before defeating Eimantas Stanionis to unify his IBF title with the WBA championship.
That run of fights defines the problem with Ennis' career to date. While he was fighting in world title fights, he was fighting competition well below the elite level. In part, that's a product of a currently weak welterweight division. Regardless, Ennis' talent is such that fans want to see him in fights that push him.
Ennis broke into the junior middleweight division with an expected quick knockout of Uisma Lima, with the expectation that a huge fight with fellow undefeated star Vergil Ortiz Jr. would follow.
Despite an in-ring faceoff between Ennis and Ortiz, a classic boxing tale followed, with Ortiz's promoter and manager butting heads and leading to the fight being tanked.
Ennis moved on to his next best option, a fight with the tough Zayas (23-0, 13 KO).
Zayas beat Jorge Garcia in July 2025, claiming the WBO title in the process. That win was a solid one and showed that the hype Top Rank had put behind the young Puerto Rican star. Further validating that hype was Zayas' hard-fought split decision win over Abass Baraou to add the WBA title to his collection.
At just 23, Zayas is taking a real risk early in his career by doing what the other elites at 154 would or could not do and facing Ennis. Let's take a closer look at the rest of the undercard for Saturday with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
Zayas vs. Ennis fight card, odds
- Jaron "Boots" Ennis -500 vs. Xander Zayas (c) +350, unified junior middleweight title
- Emiliano Vargas -1400 vs. Bryce Mills +700, junior welterweights
- Jahi Tucker -145 vs. Euri Cedeno +115, middleweights
- Ben Whittaker -2000 vs. Richard Rivera +900, light heavyweights
Prediction
Zayas is a highly skilled fighter for his age, or any age, really. And he deserves a lot of credit for stepping up and taking a fight against a guy who has trouble finding elite opponents. It's not impossible for Zayas to win this fight, his pure boxing skills are that good, but he will need to fight a near-perfect fight to do so. Ennis has shown the ability to be countered and is sometimes irresponsible defensively, not bringing his guard back quickly when throwing shots or even dropping his hands a bit.
Unfortunately for Zayas, Ennis has shown a solid chin and has all of the pure physical advantages, including in power. There will be moments where Zayas looks good and he may get the better of some exchanges, but it's Ennis whose momentum can snowball more effectively and lead to the bigger damage. Zayas may be talented enough to win a few rounds and survive to the final bell, but Ennis could also crack him, hurt him and find the finish. We'll go somewhere in the middle. Pick: Jaron "Boots" Ennis via TKO10
Add CBS Sports on GoogleBadenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
