Both Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Xander Zayas have far more to lose in their world-title fight in New York on Saturday night than their perfect records. It is an extremely good fight, a throwback and necessary pairing that is increasingly becoming a rarity in the modern American business.Ennis abandoned the physical confines of the welterweight limit last year, moved up to super-welterweight, beat a top boxer in his debut at the weight and now faces Zayas for two world titles; Zayas holds both the WBA and WBO versions. Ennis, the brightest star right now on the Philadelphia scene, starts as the slight favourite in his inevitable journey through the weight divisions.Zayas has been a professional since he was a kid of 17, his career skillfully guided by the men and women at Top Rank, arguably the best promotional team at turning a boy with potential into a man with two or more world title belts. Zayas won the first of his two belts last year, the second earlier this year. Both are victims of the modern American boxing business, where protecting the product has become the No 1 matchmaking objective; Boots should have met the top welterweights, and Zayas has been carefully matched to avoid upsetting his progress. It is, obviously, a smart business pattern. And so this is the hardest fight in their careers so far for both boxers. “Boots has it all,” said Eddie Hearn, the boxer’s promoter. “He can fight, he is smart, he’s the perfect package. There will be bigger and bigger fights for Boots; he is not afraid to fight anybody.”Boots during a win over Karen Chukhadzhian in 2023 (Getty)Ennis had failed to secure a signature fight at welterweight before departing and leaving behind his welterweight belts; Zayas has beaten two solid men to win his two belts, but they have not made him the best at the weight. That title, which thankfully does not come with a garish belt, is arguably on the line in New York on Saturday night. The modern boxing business is full of stupid belts and inane dialogue about their worthiness. But this is a refreshing fight, a fight without the egos that are dominating and shaping all attempts to match America’s best against America’s best. Zayas is a proud Puerto Rican, but he lives and fights out of Miami; the Brooklyn venue will be his on Saturday, while Ennis and his Philadelphia faithful will be outnumbered. Like Ennis, Zayas is unbeaten as a professional (Getty)A lively rivalry, one of the oldest in American boxing, will be reignited; Puerto Rico vs America in New York has deep roots in the sport. Back in 2001, I was ringside across the river at Madison Square Garden to watch Philadelphia’s Bernard Hopkins knock out Puerto Rican idol Felix Trinidad, in the 12th round. Trinidad was 40-0 at the time, the biggest Puerto Rican fighter on the planet. Hopkins had danced on the Puerto Rican flag in an ugly stunt – it was an intimidating atmosphere, one that Hopkins loved.Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of BoxingNever miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.Buy NowADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of BoxingNever miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.Buy NowADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Ennis will need to be aware of the passion he might experience if the Barclays Centre is sold out on a hot summer’s night. Ennis against Zayas might just be the fight the American public needs, a fight between unbeaten boxers desperate to fight each other and not circle a growing list of brilliant but reluctant men. Ennis should win, but it will not be easy. It will be an event.