Trainer Stephen Edwards says he doubts a fight between Ryan Garcia and unified welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will happen. Edwards believes that Golden Boy promoters Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins know that Boots Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) is a “special talent” and would be bad news for Kingry (24-1, 20 KOs).
Stephen states that Ennis would beat Ryan Garcia by a “brutal knockout” if they do fight. Edwards is high on Boots after his sixth-round TKO win over WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis earlier this month on April 12th. He says that Boots is “sadistic” and would beat a fighter “half to death” if their corner didn’t pull them out the way Stanionis’ did.
Stanionis Overblown?
With the number of times that Ennis got hit flush by Stanionis, he might not last more than two or three rounds against Ryan Garcia. Getting hit by Ryan’s left hook smash could put Boots to sleep.
Stephen seems to be forming much of his view of Ennis based on his last performance against the slow, easy-to-hit Rocky Balboa clone, Stanionis, rather than considering his previous fights against Karen Chukhadzhian. Karen schooled Ennis, outboxed, out-punched, and made him look bad in front of his fans in Philadelphia.
Like many of the fans, Coach Edwards seems to be drinking the Kool-Aid, forming an opinion on Ennis based on one fight, and shutting out his poor performances in the last two years leading up to the contest. He’s a perfect example of the type of person that promoters trick with their clever match-making.
“What is he supposed to say? He’s a promoter. Have you ever heard a promoter say, ‘My guy is going to get his a** kicked by another promoter’s fighter?’” said coach Stephen Edwards to YSM Sports Media, reacting to being asked about promoter Oscar De La Hoya saying Ryan Garcia will beat unified welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
De La Hoya knows talent when he sees it. The 1992 Olympic gold medalist and former six-division world champion has analyzed what Ryan can do against Ennis. That’s why he believes he can beat him. I agree. Kingry is punching so hard now, and he destroys that are easy to hit like Boots.
“He did his thing with [Eimantas] Stanionis, and if they make the fight with Ryan Garcia, may the best man win. Boots by brutal knockout,” said Edwards when asked how he sees a fight between Ennis and Kingry ending. “I don’t know. It depends on how the fight goes because Ryan is a super-talented guy.”
With the way Stanionis looked, he’d have lost to half of the contenders in the 147-lb division, and at least ten of the top fighters at 140. There are even 135-lb fighters that would have beaten Stanionis. He’d have been food for Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, and Abdullah Mason.
Fight Unlikely
“I like Boots. I just like him to win. I don’t think that fight is going to happen. Ryan has got a fight with Devin Haney coming up. It’s easy to talk in the open. People that know what they’re looking at know that Boots is. They just know. Do you think [Golden Boy promoter] Bernard [Hopkins] can’t look at him and be like, ‘Yo, leave that f**** alone.’”
Hopkins likely wouldn’t say that about Ryan needing to leave Ennis alone. He’d know what he’s capable of doing and see the flaws in Boots’ game. Stanionis looked like a fringe contender, and he always had. He was elevated to full WBA champ after winning the secondary belt with that organization.
“You think Oscar doesn’t know that kid [Boots Ennis] is special? He got to say certain things,” said Edwards. “People can say whatever they want. He’s got special level talent. He don’t get tired, and he’s sadistic. He’ll beat you half to death if you stay in there with him, or your corner got to whisper in your ear the way it happened with Stanionis.
“That don’t mean he can’t lose, can’t get clipped, or can’t have a tough night. But the next couple of years, he’s going to be tough to deal with,” said Edwards.
Last Updated on 04/21/2025
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