Boots Ennis on Uisma Lima: “He’s Going to Try to Bully Me — I’m Going to Beat Him Up and Break Him Down”

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis expects his opponent, Uisma Lima, to attempt to “bully” him in their WBA junior middleweight title eliminator this Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) says he’s ready for whatever Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) attempts to do in this fight on DAZN. He wants to impress the fans and make a “statement” in his debut at 154 on Saturday.

No One Bullies Ennis

‘Boots’ vacated his IBF welterweight title on July 7, 2025, and gave up his WBA belt around the same time. He’d been having problems making weight, and decided to give up on his goal of becoming undisputed champion at 147.

Given the reluctance of the other welterweight champions to fight Ennis, it could have taken years for him to accomplish that.

“I got to make a statement at 154,” said Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to TheOnlyKayla, talking about his opponent, Uisma Lima, whom he faces next Saturday, October 11. “I think he’s going to try to think he’s the bigger guy.”

Eddie Hearn’s Matchup Call

It’s a tough position to be in for Ennis. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, picked out a lower-tier fighter in Lima, and it’s put him in a position where he’s not going to receive credit even if he does obliterate him.

If ‘Boots’ struggles to win, like he did in his rematch with Karen Chukhadzhian, he’s going to be criticized. The statement he hopes to make won’t happen.

“He’s going to try to bully me, and that’s not going to work. We’re prepared for that, and we’re working on other things as well. So, I’m getting my mind right physically and mentally for this fight. I’m ready to beat him up, beat him down, and break his will and get a beautiful knockout,” said Ennis.

Lima’s Only Game Plan

Lima is going to fight aggressively like he always does, because that’s his style. It’s unrealistic for him to change his fighting style to box Ennis. At 32, Uisma’s style is already set. He’s going to try to beat ‘Boots’ at his own game and hope that he can land something big enough to take him out of there.