Jaron Ennis: The Next Welterweight Star
Jaron Ennis is seen as the future of the welterweight division as he prepares to face David Avanesyan.
Ennis defends his IBF Welterweight Title for the first time since being elevated to a full champion once Terence Crawford was stripped. Boots fights in his hometown of Philadelphia for the first time since 2018. It is his first fight since signing with Matchroom. The pressure is on Boots despite his 31-0 record with 28 KOs. He has not had a major statement win in his career.
However, a win over Avanesyan opens up doors. He could face WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios or Manny Pacquiao. Reports suggest that Pacman will return to face Barrios. There is also the chance to box WBA Welterweight Champion Eimantas Stanionis. Those are two massive unification fights, taking Boots a step closer to becoming undisputed. The future is bright since he is with Matchroom, who are likely to invest a lot of money in him. Matchroom’s association with the Saudis also makes it much easier to have big fights, given the amount of money on the table.
Algeri Reacts
“As long as he can make 147, ‘Boots’ is that guy – he’s going to run through 147 and then go up to 154. We’re going to see ‘Boots’ for a long time. Super talented. Young (27). Has the frame for it. Has the shoulders.. Long. His style – hard to hit, slick, smooth, super athletic, power in both hands. Starts fast, finishes late. You name it, this guy can do it,” Algieri said
There is also the prospect of moving up to 154 pounds later down the line. The primary target their would be Terence Crawford. Bud has his first fight at the weight class against Israil Madrimov on August 3. Provided that he wins, he will become a four-weight world champion. Crawford has then set his sights on potentially rematching Errol Spence Jr. at 154. He knocked out Spence in round nine to become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era.
Boots’ Aim
The rematch broke down. But Spence is reportedly in line to fight Sebastian Fundora. Fundora holds the WBO and WBC belts at 154 after beating Tim Tsyzu. If Spence wins and faces Crawford, Ennis could target the winner later in a mega clash. The fight would be a huge risk for Crawford, who is already 36. But if the fight does not happen, Ennis will likely dominate 147. His trainer, Stephen Edwards, expects that to happen.
“The only one that is going to be looked at as a challenge for Boots right now at 147 is literally nobody. There’s nobody at 147 where people can look at and go, ‘That guy can beat him.’ They’re not. Errol and Bud moved up. Vergil Ortiz moved up. There’s nobody at 147 that would be less than a 4-1 underdog against Boots. Even if he fought Mario Barrios or Stanionis. Stanionis would be the closest one. Any of those guys would be a 4-1 or more against him. That’s how dominant the eyeball test and the Vegas oddsmakers look at him,” Edwards stated
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