On multiple occasions, undefeated IBF world welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis has mentioned one of his career goals, and on Saturday night April 12, Ennis will have the opportunity to get one step closer when he faces WBA world welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs).
This battle between the two undefeated champions will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and air live on DAZN. Both men will enter the ring as a champion, but only one will exit with the WBA, IBF, and The Ring Magazine belt.
Back in October 2021 after collecting his 28th career victory with a first round knockout over Thomas Dulorme, Boots Ennis proceeded to call out Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. Neither Crawford nor Spence showed interest in facing Ennis because at the time, it would have been a high risk, low reward type of bout.
Ennis continued to win, and back in January 2023, he defeated Karen Chukhadzhian and won the vacant IBF interim welterweight title. Ten months later, undisputed champion Terence Crawford was stripped of the IBF world title and Ennis was elevated to full champion.
Boots Ennis made a big career move in April 2024 when he signed on with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. The Philadelphia native had his first IBF world title defense in his hometown at the Wells Fargo Center when he stopped David Avanesyan in the 5th round.
Four months later, Boots Ennis would have a second consecutive title defense in his hometown, as he faced a familiar opponent. The first fight between Ennis and Chukhadzhian lacked action, but Ennis was able to collect a unanimous decision victory.
The second fight was much more entertaining, but unfortunately for Chukhadzhian, he lost again via unanimous decision. Now Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) is ready to pursue the first step to achieving a career goal.
Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Naoya Inoue have set the bar by going undisputed in two different weight classes. Boots Ennis has his sights set on becoming undisputed at 147, and then if he wants to pursue it, he could possibly try to duplicate the feat at 154.
As a guest on the midday show “Way Up” with host Angela Yee, Jaron Ennis spoke about his career goal of becoming undisputed, but he also emphasized the fact that he wants to stay focused on his upcoming opponent.
“That’s what I’m here to do you know. I’m locked in right now on Stanionis, and once I win these belts on next Saturday, I become WBA champ, Ring Magazine champ, and IBF champ, and the unified lineal champ of the world, we’ll see what’s next after that, but right now I’m locked in on him,” Ennis stated.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis has all the tools needed to construct a legendary boxing career. The unification bout will be the first step in regards to Ennis taking his brand to the next level. If he defeats Stanionis on Saturday, then he’ll be able to place WBO champion Brian Norman Jr, and WBC champion Mario Barrios on his radar.
Last Updated on 04/07/2025
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