It took Jaron Ennis less than two minutes to remind boxing why he was long considered the sport's next big thing. The 28-year-old Philadelphian nicknamed “Boots” crushed Wisma Lima on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, marking an explosive debut at 154 pounds and setting the stage for much bigger challenges that await him next year.
Ennis dropped the tough but surprising Lima three times in 118 seconds, igniting the rowdy hometown crowd right in his corner. A powerful right uppercut started the breakdown, followed by two swift strikes that left his Portugal-based Angolan opponent unable to continue. Referee Sean Clark waved him off at 1:58 of the first round, giving the undefeated Ennis his 35th professional win, his 31st win over the distance and a statement that would reverberate through the sport even if it didn't match. “The more I move up, the stronger I get,” Ennis said later. “This is my division now. I sent a big message tonight.”
This message was addressed directly to Virgil Ortiz Jr. The undefeated Texan, who holds the interim WBC junior middleweight title, is expected to face Ennis in early 2026 in a fight that promoter Eddie Hearn has called “one of the best fights in American boxing.” Matchroom Boxing Supremo confirmed that a deal with Golden Boy Promotions has already been finalized in anticipation of Ortiz's title defense against Erickson Lubin in November.
Saturday's quick loss was vindication for Ennis, who spent years exhausting himself to reach 147 pounds. His father and trainer, Derek “Bosie” Ennis, has long said that fighting at welterweight cost him his strength and edge. “He was killing himself to get 147,” Hearn said. “Now we see the real Boots: almost 100%. He is massive, powerful and, finally, free.”
Lima, a fringe contender and a distant 10-1 underdog, barely had time to test him. After a few exploratory strikes, Ennis switched to a southpaw stance and sneaked in a right uppercut that lifted Lima's head like a hinge before landing three more hooks that dropped him on his back.
After beating the count, Lima lost his balance and his eyes told the story. Ennis coolly moved forward, unleashing another barrage of punches that knocked him to the canvas for a second time. As Lima stood up again, he staggered back to the neutral corner, where Ennis closed the distance and released his hands. A series of blows left the referee with no choice but to intervene as the towel flew out of Lima's corner. When it was over, Ennis looked almost embarrassed by the ease of it all.
Ennis has no shortage of options at 154 pounds, including newly minted beltholders. Xander Zayas and Abass Barau or the popular Sebastian Fundora, whose hand injury last week delayed his title defense against Keith Thurman.
But no one could move the needle like Ortiz. These two comets have been orbiting each other for many years, the twin comets moving on parallel trajectories, their eventual collision has long been predicted and eagerly anticipated. “It's going to happen next,” Ennis said. “He's got a fight coming up. If he doesn't win, I'll fight the winner. I want Virgil Ortiz next.”
