Boots Ennis on 154 move: 'I feel way stronger at this weight'

Jaron "Boots" Ennis says his jump to welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super welterweight has already paid dividends ahead of Saturday's title fight against Xander Zayas.

Ennis appeared on The Breakfast Club to discuss the matchup and told the hosts he feels physically stronger since leaving the welterweight division, according to Bad Left Hook. The Philadelphia fighter had lingered at 147 pounds chasing an undisputed clash that never materialized before moving up to challenge for two 154-pound belts this weekend.

Ennis on why he stayed at welterweight too long

"I feel way stronger at this weight class," Ennis said on the show. "I probably should've been moved up but I was staying down there trying to be undisputed down there. Those guys down there were playing around so I had to move up and I think that's the best decision I made because I think I would've stayed at that weight for too long."

When asked about Terence Crawford, whose name has been linked to Ennis for years as a potential welterweight superfight, Ennis kept his focus on Zayas. Crawford recently announced his retirement from boxing, and Ennis made it clear he's not looking backward. He told the hosts Crawford is a retired fighter and that he's locked in on the task in front of him.

Ennis also named Teofimo Lopez, Oleksandr Usyk, and Shakur Stevenson when pressed on who he considers the best active fighters in the sport. The Zayas bout is scheduled for Saturday night.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘I feel way stronger’: Boots Ennis says moving to 154 was a great decision