Ennis Ready For Stanionis; Targets Undisputed – ‘I’m Here To Collect All The Belts’
Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis face off this weekend in their welterweight unification, as Boots’ focus was on undisputed.
Ennis is the IBF Welterweight Champion, a belt he defended successfully by beating Karen Chukhadzhian in his previous bout. It was the second time had beaten his man. However, the performance came under fire as Ennis was hit more than usual. Ennis also failed to stop his man despite being considered a knockout artist. The champion was in talks with Vergil Ortiz Jr.
But talks broke down as Ennis kept his focus on trying to become undisputed at 147. Stanionis has accused Ennis of trying to avoid him. This was after suggestions that Ennis wanted to fight Mario Barrios and Brian Norman Jr. over him. Stanionis’s record stands at 15-0. His previous bout was a victory against Gabriel Maestre. The winner takes a step closer to becoming undisputed.
Ennis Reacts
“I’m here to collect all the belts, and I’m locked in on Stanionis. Win on Saturday and I’m the WBA, IBF, and Ring Magazine champion, and then we’ll see what’s next. But I am zoned in on Stanionis, no doubt, and I’m ready to give everybody what they are asking for. It’s a big fight for him and I’m glad he’s taken the fight and given the fans what they want. I’m number one in the division, he’s number two, I’m dialed in, I’m so focused on this.
“[And] I’m here to do one thing and that’s put hands on you, that’s it. I’m not trying to talk or go back and forth on the internet. I know that fighters are trying to hype the fight, but when it’s already sold, you don’t need to do it. Everybody is different though,” Ennis said
Those comments are understandable since the welterweight division does not have the biggest names as it previously had: Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, Keith Thurman, and Danny Garcia, to name a few, are no longer in the weight class. The other champions in the division is the WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Barrios has already suffered a loss to Gervonta Davis at 140 pounds and to Thurman at 147, meaning Ennis would be a big favorite if they squared off.
The Future
Meanwhile, Brian Norman Jr. still has plenty to prove in the sport, with suggestions that the WBO Welterweight Champion has not fought a big name. Norman Jr. was also in talks to face Ennis, but the fight did not go ahead after suggestions that Norman’s team simply wanted too much money. Ennis would take confidence from that, given that he would view himself as the A-side.
A victory over Stanionis will make those fights much easier to make since Ennis will have more leverage. And given that Boots works with Matchroom Boxing, which are close with the Saudis, the future looks bright for him. If he conquers the 147 pound division, he can naturally move up 154 pounds since he is bigger than welterweight.
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