When Xander Zayas was a teenager, Bob Arum believed would eventually become a world champion. That it happened at 22 somewhat blows his mind.

Before he was legally able to drink, Zayas (22-0, 13 KOs) told his promoter that he was ready for the big leagues. This past weekend, he proved that he wasn’t all talk.

Jorge Garcia gave Zayas a few worrisome moments during their 12-round bout at Hulu Theater in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. But after finding his range and boxing on his toes, Zayas walked away with the vacant WBO 154-pound title.

The junior middleweight division has a ton of names. From Sebastian Fundora to Bakhram Murtazaliev to everyone else in between, the Puerto Rican will have his work cut out.

Arum likes all of those matchups. But while those future opponents will be anything but mundane, Arum has his eyes on a certain fighter who hasn’t officially arrived at the weight class.

“I think Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis would be a terrific fight,” Arum told The Ring. “That would be really good. Ennis is a really good fighter. That would be a major fight.”

Ennis, without a doubt, was the best welterweight during his run. Beating down the competition was never an issue, but the scales? That was a fight he could no longer win.

Shortly after beating Eimantas Stanionis on April 12, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, The Ring, IBF, and WBA champ decided to abandon his throne and move up in weight.

Ironically enough, Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ promoter, recently revealed that a fight offer was sent to highly ranked 154-pound contender Josh Kelly. Hearn is also of the belief that if they got it on, it could be a WBO final eliminator.

Ennis has the talent. Still, Arum won’t instruct his champ to eschew him. In fact, with Ennis stomping around in the junior middleweight division now, the longtime promoter is more than willing to make that fight.

“That fight can happen sooner rather than later.”