Jaron "Boots" Ennis delivered a knockout punch, quite literally, in his first fight at 154 pounds. In front of a hometown crowd in Philadelphia, Ennis knocked out Uisma Lima in just two minutes, securing the WBO interim super welterweight title. This performance has fans and boxing enthusiasts alike buzzing with excitement.
Ennis, with an impressive 35-0 record and 31 knockouts, has been hailed as the future of boxing for a few years now. His reputation grew from dominating lesser-known opponents at 147 pounds to the point where he was on the cusp of becoming a pay-per-view headliner or attracting the attention of wealthy Saudi boxing patron Turki Alalshikh. However, the hype train seemed to hit a bump in the road.
The attendance for the Lima fight was underwhelming, with the upper deck of the arena unsold and the crowd significantly smaller than the reported 10,000 fans who witnessed Ennis's previous decision win over Karen Chukhadzhian. This contrast highlights the importance of putting on a show, as even hometown fans may lose interest if the excitement is lacking.
Before the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn emphasized the need for Ennis to make a statement in his 154-pound debut to regain the attention of fight fans. Ennis certainly delivered, showcasing his skills and power. He trained with the renowned Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, and his performance against Lima was a testament to his abilities.
The fight itself was a display of Ennis's quickness and power. He quickly switched to a southpaw stance, landing probing right jabs and a sweeping left hand that momentarily left Lima off balance. However, it was a brutal right uppercut that caught Lima off guard, followed by a devastating right-left-right combo that sent him to the canvas. The ferocity of Ennis's attacks was chilling, and the referee had to stop the fight after just 1:01 in the first round.
Now, the boxing world is eagerly anticipating Boots's next move. Some insiders suggest that Ennis's lackluster ring résumé is not entirely his fault, and fans have been calling for a fight against the popular and undefeated Vergil Ortiz, who holds the WBC interim super welterweight title. Promoter Hearn confirmed that Ennis had agreed to fight Ortiz multiple times, but the Texas fighter has been dodging the bout.
If Ortiz fails to overcome Erickson Lubin in their upcoming fight, or if he continues to avoid a match with Ennis, the focus will likely shift to a potential bout between Ennis and Sebastian Fundora, another super welterweight champion known for his impressive jab and reach advantage.
Ennis's victory over Lima sends a clear message to the boxing world, and fans are eagerly awaiting his next move. The question remains: Who will he fight next, and will it be the highly anticipated showdown with Ortiz or a different opponent? The boxing community is on the edge of their seats, waiting to see what Boots Ennis does next.
