The British promoter has been Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ most vocal advocate since the two-division champion signed with Matchroom Boxing two years ago. Hearn genuinely believes Ennis’ unique skills will help him claim the top spot on pound-for-pound lists and routinely touts the undefeated Philadelphia native as the most marketable blend of talent and entertainment in boxing.

In the third round of his fan-friendly fight against Xander Zayas, though, legitimate doubt entered Hearn’s mind for the first time about whether Ennis would win a bout.

The troublesome moments Ennis experienced for the first time in his 10-year professional career made Hearn nervous. That feeling didn’t last long, as Ennis recovered by the fourth round and continued to pick apart the former WBA/WBO 154-pound champion at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs, 1 NC) dropped Zayas (23-1, 13 KOs) once apiece in the first, fifth and seventh rounds. Referee Harvey Dock halted the action at 1:49 of the seventh because Zayas’ trainer, Javiel Centeno, called for a stoppage once the battered, brave Puerto Rican went down for the third time.

“I think that styles make fights, obviously,” Hearn said during a post-fight press conference. “And I think Boots chose to fight like that tonight. I think he’s never [been hurt], you know, and I guess he’ll answer the questions about how hurt he was. He was clearly buzzed, in my opinion. I won’t say that when he’s here, just in case he argues that. But yeah, look, it’s difficult to say he wasn’t. You see him hold an arm, but he was fighting back. It wasn’t like he was taking a knee or stumbling around the ring. He was holding a little bit, but he was sitting in the pocket and fighting back.

“You can’t necessarily do that against every style. So, maybe if he fights [Sebastian] Fundora, someone else, or Vergil [Ortiz], maybe he’ll fight a little bit more of a smarter fight, I don’t know, if he respects their power a little bit more. I have no idea, but one thing I know is when I sit down to watch a Boots Ennis fight, I don’t really have any fear or doubts that he’s gonna lose. And I did for about 20 or 30 seconds. But other than that, you know, it was a fantastic performance.”

The right hand Zayas landed in the third round made Ennis stumble backward and left the former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champ attempting to hold. Zayas mostly slipped his clinches, which encouraged Ennis to fight out of the trouble throughout the second half of the third round.

The vulnerability Ennis exhibited left lingering questions he could’ve avoided had he boxed more and banged less.

“Boots is really not happy, to be honest with you,” Hearn said. “Like, I mean, he’s celebrating. But I know in his mind he’s thinking, ‘You idiot!’ But that’s OK. Don’t forget, that’s the first time he’s faced any adversity in the ring – ever. And he had to come through that. Right? So, as much as Xander came through moments and got stopped eventually, Boots had to come through a big moment there. And at the end of the day, you never wanna be in those moments. But it’s good to know you can come through the other side.”

Hearn nevertheless expects Derek “Bozy” Ennis, Jaron’s father and trainer, to implore him to take fewer chances fighting from the pocket as he continues to battle better, stronger opponents.

“He announced himself tonight as a true superstar of the sport,” Hearn said. “I said he would going in. I think Xander did as well, to be honest with you. I thought it was incredible. And that’s what Boots does. Like, when you talk about pound-for-pound stars and entertainment, I’m sure the trainers will tell him, ‘Can you please not always fight like that?’ But that’s how he fights. Tonight wasn’t the exception. He comes in from the first bell looking to take you out. And he walked [into] a huge artillery in the third round and got buzzed and came back and showed unbelievable heart himself.”