Half of the Light Middleweight Division will be Unified at the end of this night and the winner will likely go on to face one of the other two Champions, although it has been rumoured that Sebastian Fundora and Josh Kelly will face one another and then an Undisputed fight can be secured early next year.
Tomorrow doesn't matter for Xander Zayas and Jaron Ennis as both look to 'prove themselves' on a big stage.
While much of the schedule for the second half of the year has yet to be released, the Oleksandr Usyk decision to vacate all of his World Titles should mean there are some big Heavyweight nights to come as the next generation have a chance to create their own legacy.
Oleksandr Usyk has every right to choose the fights he wants to round out his career without the need to be pushed on mandatories and having up and comers standing across the ring from him.
The likelihood is that he will sign with Zuffa Boxing (which will add to their ambitions of crushing the four World Boxing organisations) and an immediate rematch with Rico Verhoeven has to be expected.
Young Heavyweights will be disappointed that they have not been able to take the torch from the last generation's big Champion, but the likes of Daniel Dubois and Agit Kabayel will be full World Champions and the IBF World Title could easily be on the line when Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic in August, especially if they are mandated to face Frank Sanchez, the current Number 1 in the Rankings, next.
Murat Gassiev defends his Regular WBA World Title against Tony Yoka and that is another winner that could be upgraded to full Champion.
And while none of those Champions feel like generational ones yet (with Itauma showing most potential), it would offer up some big opportunities for a number of fighters to try and prove themselves with big tests not involving the old guard of Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua who all look to be heading into a mini-tournament of their own.
We would usually consider the end of June as a time when Boxing will be ready to take a mini-break before going again from September, but that is not the case these days and there are plenty of big nights taking place over the summer months.
Of most interest is the return of Errol Spence Jr after a three year absence and he will be travelling Down Under to face Tim Tszyu, which feels like a crossroads fight for both. That is another that could be of interest to the winner of the Saturday main event in Brooklyn, especially if Spence Jr was to win, but for now, all eyes are on two young fighters looking to make a big statement.
Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis
For some time, Jaron 'Boots' Ennis has been spoken about as the next big star of the Welterweight Division, but his rise has come at the same time as the previous generation moved on and there has been a lack of real talent in the 147 pound Division since Terence Crawford beat Errol Spence Jr.
It has meant that Ennis has remained something of a 'boogeyman' with a big reputation, but anything other than a big resume.
Boots looks the part, and has largely shown he is the real deal in his wins, but it is always said that greatness can only be measured when facing greatness.
He has just turned 29 years old but the best win on the record is probably Eimantas Stanionis, who had been out of the ring for thirteen months. Wins over Sergey Lipinets, Custio Clayton, Karen Chukhadzhian (twice) and David Avanesyan do not leap off the page that well and so there is a real 'prove it' moment coming up for Jaron Ennis as he looks to make good on all the hype that has been around him.
Jaron Ennis is unbeaten, but so is 23 year old Xander Zayas and all credit has to be given to the latter for taking on what feels like the biggest test he could find.
Xander Zayas has a big following, but there had been some doubt about how far he can go with his CV feeling like he had been well promoted, rather than perhaps genuinely being the goods. Picking up a Vacant World Title is one thing, but the win over Abass Baraou in January has really announced Zayas on this world level.
He is young and unbeaten, which means Xander Zayas is going to give this a go, while there is always a feeling that his team may see something in Boots Ennis to go after this Unification when it could have been delayed.
Credit has to be given to them for choosing this fight, but it does feel like skills will pay the bills and Jaron Ennis is the superior boxer with his footwork and power likely to be the difference.
Criticism of Jaron Ennis is that he takes too many big shots, but he has shown a sturdy enough chin and this feels like a 'coming out' party for the American.
The body shots are likely going to be used early to slow Xander Zayas' movement and Jaron Ennis can take over the contest from there- the feeling is that he will be breaking down the younger man the longer the fight goes on and Jaron Ennis has shown a ruthlessness in his finishing to believe that he will eventually put together enough punches to force a close without the need to hear the Judges' cards.
A decent undercard will get us prepared for the main event and one of the names will be very familiar with the UK market.
Ben Whittaker signed with Matchroom with the promise to really put some momentum behind his career, but this is going to be just the third fight since April 2025. He is a young professional, but Whittaker is also 29 years old and it feels like his backers have not been willing to take the risks that you would have expected, especially under Eddie Hearn's guidance.
Since April 2025, Ben Whittaker has two First Round wins so there is a hope that Richard Rivera offers some resistance.
The 35 year old has never been Stopped and pushed Badou Jack to a Split Decision loss in 2022, but the Rivera resume is otherwise pretty average.
Worse is that he has not fought since January 2025 and it does feel like Whittaker has been placed in a showcase spot on his United States debut- that may see him look to impress with some of the antics he employed early in his career, but The Surgeon should be able to become the first man to get Rivera out of there before the final bell and it is expected to be another relatively early night in the office.
There are a couple of American prospects looking to remain on the pathway towards the top and Emiliano Vargas should have enough power to put an early dent into Bryce Mills.
The latter is stepping up his levels considerably, and Mills may not have the power to dissuade Emiliano Vargas from getting forward and letting his hands go.
Fourteen Stoppages in seventeen wins shows the kind of threat Vargas will be bringing into the ring and he should be able to wear down and eventually overwhelm Bryce Mills in this Ten Rounder.
MY PICKS: Jaron Ennis to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)
Ben Whittaker to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.20 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Emiliano Vargas to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.40 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Boxing 2026: 15-31, - 14.96 Units (69 Units Staked, - 21.68% Yield)
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