Promoter Eddie Hearn insists Saturday’s fight between Jaron Ennis and Uisma Lima won’t be an easy one for the former unified welterweight champion ‘Boots’ on October 11.
Lima No Easy Touch
Hearn says Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) is a “good fighter” and will give Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) a proper test in his debut at 154 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Fans are hoping that this isn’t just another gimme for Ennis, as they’ve seen him build much of his 34-fight resume on wins over lesser fighters.
Hearn has repeatedly said that ‘Boots’ will look better with him moving up to 154, where he believes he’ll be stronger because he won’t be draining himself like he had when he was campaigning at 147.
Crawford Still in the Picture
We’ll see if that’s the case because it might not be any different. Seven pounds isn’t that much weight, and he’s looked painfully thin this week as he’s dropped weight. It’s possible that he needs to move up to middleweight to be at full strength.
That would be ideal because he and Hearn can start pressuring Terence Crawford to face him. That’s where Terence expects to move down to. Being at 160, Ennis and Hearn can keep the heat on Crawford, forcing him and his team to make excuses for why they’re not fighting him. It would be the perfect PR move for ‘Boots’ to show that Terence is ducking him.
Ennis-Lima will headline this Saturday on DAZN. The event starts at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT. In the co-feature, heavyweight Alexis Barriere (12-0, 10 KOs) faces 2016 Olympian Guido Vianello (13-3-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
“Sam Jones has been in Philly with Jack Catterall. ‘Eddie, I’ve been watching him spar. I’ve never seen a fighter like him. I’ve seen all the top fighters,’ said Eddie Hearn to Ring Magazine, praising Jaron Ennis ahead of his fight this Saturday night against Uisma Lima.
Hearn didn’t say who Ennis had been sparring with to have looked so impressive. If it’s Catterall, it doesn’t mean much because that guy has no power and was recently beaten by Arnold Barboza Jr. at 140.
Hearn Eyes Vergil Ortiz Next
“Lima is a good fighter. This is not an easy fight to go into at 154, but after this fight, we want Vergil Ortiz,” said Hearn.
When Hearn says Lima is “good,” it sounds more like double talk, meaning that he’s a capable fighter, but not someone who has any chance of winning. That’s why ‘Boots’ isn’t being given any credit for using Lima as his opponent to make his debut at 154. Hearn should have dug deep to get the money to bring one of these contenders for Ennis to fight:
- Erickson Lubin
- Israil Madrimov
- Jesus Ramos Jr.
- Yoenis Tellez
- Serhii Bohachuk
- Brandon Adams
Last Updated on 10/07/2025
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