Xander Zayas ready for Boots Ennis: 'Going to win like I always do'

welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">Super welterweight champion Xander Zayas says he has spent months visualizing his title defense against Boots Ennis, replaying every potential exchange in his head as he prepares for Saturday's showdown.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show this week, Zayas broke down what he sees as flaws in the games of both Ennis and Sebastian Fundora, the two fighters widely considered his toughest challenges in the division, according to Bad Left Hook. Fundora earned praise as a good fighter but not a great one, with Zayas pointing to his late adoption of the jab despite standing six-foot-five and a tendency to plant his feet and absorb damage on the inside.

Zayas sees flat-footed Ennis as beatable Saturday

Zayas was more direct about Ennis, identifying him as flat-footed and suggesting his opponent knows it. "I'm going to win like I always do," Zayas said, per the report. "To be honest, I'm ready to go 12 rounds if I need to. I'm ready to take advantage of the opportunities. I already envisioned all the opportunities I can take advantage of and I visualize them and I see them every night as I go to sleep."

The Puerto Rican champion added that he runs through both his mistakes and his best work mentally, trying to play out every scenario before stepping into the ring. Zayas has built his title reign on sharp counterpunching and ring IQ, tools he believes will expose Ennis if the challenger plants his feet looking for power shots.

The bout takes place Saturday night with Zayas defending both his WBC and WBO welterweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super welterweight straps.

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• Bad Left Hook — ‘Going to win like I always do’: Xander Zayas ready for the moment against Boots Ennis