He is also a decided underdog, and not just according to handicappers, entering his 154-pound title fight against Jaron Ennis on Saturday night at Barclays Center. The confident Puerto Rican exuded a quiet confidence during their final press conference Thursday, yet he also issued a message to Ennis and anyone else underestimating his chances of retaining his WBA and WBO belts.

“I feel like he thinks it’s gonna be an easy night,” Zayas told DAZN’s Chris Mannix, who moderated the press conference at Barclays. “And let him think it. Saturday night, I will come out there, and I will do what I do at the highest level, like I always do. I will make the adjustments, like I always make 'em, and I will come out victorious. That’s all that matters to me.”

DraftKings lists Ennis as a 5-1 favorite even though he is the challenger and has boxed less than one round in the junior middleweight division. The former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champ from Philadelphia spoke Thursday as if the odds should be even wider and referred to Zayas as “easy work,” a phrase Floyd Mayweather popularized during his heyday.

“He a solid fighter,” Ennis said. “He a champion for a reason, but it’s just levels. And I’m gonna show [it] come Saturday night and show my skills and my ability. I cannot wait. I’m trying to tell y’all. I cannot wait.”

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) and his father/trainer, Derek “Bozy” Ennis, predicted he’ll knock out Zayas (23-0, 13 KOs), whose durability and technical skill are among his best assets.

“I like Xander,” Bozy Ennis said. “I always liked Xander’s style. I like the way he box. I like the way he fight. Xander, he have a lotta heart. Any time you’re taking a fight with Boots, and don’t care … with who he is and [everything] like that, I respect him for that. Boots is on another level.”

Zayas is nevertheless ranked No. 3 among The Ring’s junior middleweight contenders for a vacant title, two spots atop Ennis.

Subscribers to DAZN’s Ultimate plan, which costs $49.99 monthly in the United States and £24.99 in the United Kingdom, have access to the Zayas-Ennis card for no additional charge. The main portion of the event, set to begin at 8 p.m. ET and 1 a.m. BST, will be offered via DAZN Pay-Per-View to non-subscribers for $74.99 in the U.S. and £24.99 in the UK.