Apr 10, 2025, 07:36 AM ET
Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis meet to unify two welterweight titles Saturday night time in Atlantic Town, New Jersey (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET).
Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs), the IBF champion, is making the 3rd protection of his belt. He defeated Karen Chukhadzhian by means of unanimous choice in November, in a struggle the place he dropped Chukhadzhian in Spherical 5 and gained by means of scorecards of 119-107, 117-109 and 116-110. Ennis had overwhelmed Chukhadzhian in the past in January 2023, successful each around in all 3 judges’ scorecards.
Ennis, who is educated by means of his father, Derek “Bozy” Ennis, has an extraordinary aggregate of energy and pace and has gained 5 of his final seven fights by means of stoppage. He has nice footwork and will throw punches from any perspective. His purpose is to assemble all 4 primary welterweight titles prior to shifting to 154 kilos.
“I am right here to assemble the entire belts and I am locked in on Stanionis,” stated Ennis all through a coaching consultation Monday in Philadelphia. “Win on Saturday and I am the WBA, IBF and Ring mag champion, after which we’re going to see what is subsequent. However I’m zoned in on Stanionis, definitely. … I am No. 1 within the department, he is No. 2, I am dialed in. I am so centered in this.”
Editor’s Selections
2 Comparable
Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) used to be the WBA “common” welterweight champion after which increased to complete champion when Terence Crawford moved as much as junior middleweight to stand Israil Madrimov in August 2024. Stanionis did not struggle in 2023 after a struggle in opposition to Vergil Ortiz Jr. used to be postponed more than one occasions. Stanionis, who trains at Wild Card Boxing Membership in Los Angeles, stated he had a powerful camp and he is been “grinding nonstop.”
“On a daily basis I stroll into that fitness center, I deal with it like a struggle,” Stanionis stated whilst coaching in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “I am locked in and hungry. That is the most productive model of me the sector has ever observed.
“Ennis is slick, explosive, they usually say he is the way forward for the department. That is why I signed the contract. …This is not gonna be a chess fit. That is going to be a battle. I am entering into that ring to check him, destroy him and beat him. Let’s have a look at how he handles actual drive.”
Can Ennis make the most of his higher boxing talents, stay Stanionis at a distance and land his mixtures? Will Stanionis be capable to get within and punish Ennis to the physique to take a look at to gradual him down? Andres Ferrari spoke to boxing commentator and previous junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez, former junior light-weight identify contender Thomas Dulorme — who fought each Ennis and Stanionis — and welterweight contender Roiman Villa, who fought Ennis in 2023. ESPN having a bet knowledgeable Ian Parker added his research at the leading tournament and at the junior light-weight bout between Raymond Ford and Thomas Mattice, who struggle at the co-main tournament.
Editor’s notice: Content material has been edited for brevity and readability.
Raul Marquez, boxing analyst, former junior middleweight champion
The matchup
Jaron Ennis, above, is the favourite to defeat Eimantas Stanionis in a welterweight unification struggle Saturday in Atlantic Town. Matchroom Boxing
I take into account once I lined Ennis the primary time at Showbox and used to be inspired. He is were given many dimensions. He assaults from other angles. He is were given a recreation plan A, B, C, D, E, F, G — he adapts to any more or less taste. Then again, Stanionis is robust. He is were given energy. He is were given respectable pace. However Ennis is a technician. He is very athletic, he is very inventive, he is highly intelligent. He is were given just right energy. He is were given nice pace.
How does Ennis win this struggle?
The toughest factor for an Ennis opponent to determine is the way in which he assaults you from other angles, how he switches from proper to left and throws three- and four-punch mixtures — and he is being inventive with the ones mixtures. It’s by no means the similar. That is what confuses the opposite opponents. So, for Ennis to win, he wishes to make use of his athleticism, his pace, his boxing IQ. He is at all times pondering forward.
Ennis has nice footwork and upper-body motion. You by no means in finding him. When you’re able to arrange a punch, he isn’t there anymore. When he is shifting from proper to left, you do not even understand he is doing it — it comes naturally to him — and that is the reason why he catches you with the ones photographs as a result of you do not know the place they’re coming from.
How does Stanionis win this struggle?
He must impose his power, his energy. Stanionis throws some just right mixtures. He is a sensible, skilled man. He is aware of what he is doing within the ring, since he comes from a just right beginner background and he is been within the ring with any other just right, skilled guys. To win, he will have to stroll Ennis down however be sensible and do not surrender. He may lose some early rounds, however you have to put money into a physique assault early on. Hit Ennis at the physique, palms — omit concerning the head, as a result of it’ll be onerous to hit the pinnacle. Attempt to destroy him, attempt to get him drained, and confidently in the second one part of the struggle, Stanionis has extra luck. Through dressed in Ennis down, he may just prevent Ennis’ mobility and pace. And as soon as Ennis will get drained, issues are other. So take him into deep waters. That is Stanionis’ best likelihood.
Stanionis wishes to try this in the back of a in point of fact just right jab. He can’t unmarried punch. Even supposing he may really feel that he is going to get hit, Stanionis may need to take one shot, two photographs, 3 photographs to get one in. To be able to get nearer to Ennis, he will need to jab his manner in with numerous faints, numerous waist motion and, in fact, being wary. However he is were given to chop that distance. He is were given to make the hoop smaller for Ennis, make it a telephone sales space struggle. Stanionis isn’t going to outbox Ennis. There is not any manner.
His plan will have to be to make the hoop small, reduce the gap in the back of a quick, onerous jab. Alternate the jab up, too — onerous jab, touching jab, rapid jab to the physique and head and palms — hoping that he wears Ennis down after the 6th around. After which take a look at what I name the turnaround. Stanionis may lose some early rounds, however in the second one part of the struggle he may just take over. It takes a in point of fact just right fighter in nice form to overcome every other in point of fact skillful fighter that is in nice form. Breaking him down is the one option to do it. You might be no longer going to outbox a man like that.
Who wins?
I’m going to cross with Ennis by means of choice.
Thomas Dulorme, former junior welterweight identify contender
How does Ennis win this struggle?
I believe he will have to stay his distance. Stanionis sits on his punches, has numerous energy and will hit. Ennis wishes to make use of his pace, his blank boxing. If he does that, he would possibly not have any issues. But when he shall we Stanionis come ahead and reduce the gap and do his activity, he’s going to have issues.
Stanionis can be in entrance of Ennis, coming ahead. He would possibly not have the most productive method, however he is a fighter who will at all times come ahead and throw punches. Right through my coaching for the struggle with Ennis, we fascinated about his proper hand and left hook. Within the short while the struggle lasted [Ennis KO’d Dulorme at 1:49 of the first round], I used to be in a position to counter him very simply. However Ennis has superb protection and motion within the ring. To win, he will have to stay his distance and no longer let Stanionis get him at shut vary. If Stanionis permits Ennis house, Ennis will pick out up his tempo and it’ll be a difficult night time for Stanionis.
How does Stanionis win this struggle?
Eimantas Stanionis, above, must get within and drive Jaron Ennis with the intention to rating an disenchanted on Saturday. Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
If Stanionis manages to switch or throw punches concurrently Ennis, he can harm him. Stanionis sits on his punches, however Ennis is extra athletic and has extra motion. So, if Stanionis waits to construct a protection prior to counterpunching, Ennis would possibly not be there anymore. To place Ennis in hassle, Stanionis will have to throw his punches concurrently Ennis and no longer let him reset his protection.
Once we fought, we did not wish to give Ennis house. If Stanionis is a success doing that — and Stanionis has a just right punch — he can win. Stanionis needs to be difficult and struggle grimy, pushing and punching from any perspective when he is at shut vary. Do not let Ennis get right into a rhythm, as a result of if he does, and he has his distance, it is going to be tough for Stanionis. I will be able to provide you with an instance. Marcos Maidana fought Adrien Broner. Maidana had a method like Stanionis — staying in a single position, planted, attacking with out nice method — however he used to be a really perfect fighter and he did what he needed to do. He closed the gap and were given in entrance of Broner, knocked him down two times and gained the struggle. Stanionis will have to do the similar. The essential factor in each struggle is the outcome, regardless of how he wins.
Who wins?
It’ll be a just right struggle. I am leaning towards the boxer and I believe Ennis wins by means of knockout. They each hit onerous, however whoever manages to take keep an eye on of the gap will win. And that’s the reason Ennis.
Roiman Villa, welterweight contender
How does Ennis win this struggle?
Jaron Ennis remained undefeated with a Tenth-round KO of Roiman Villa in July 2023. Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
I fought Ennis, and he is a difficult fighter to stand. [Ennis beat him by 10th-round TKO in 2023.] I have never fought Stanionis, however he is a tank who strikes ahead. Ennis lands within punches really well, and Stanionis fights with an open guard. Ennis is tricky to seek out; he strikes really well. I am a fighter who’s prepared to take a couple of punches to land my very own, however the issue with doing that in opposition to Ennis is that he is very onerous to hit. He will get into the ropes, or even whilst at the ropes, he is onerous to hit. And when he hits you, it appears like anyone’s thrown a brick at your head.
And it isn’t simply his energy. Ennis has just right footwork and waist motion. Andy Cruz, who is running with Ennis, says Ennis may be very onerous to hit. Consider that, with Cruz being a two-time Olympic champion. After I fought Ennis, I sought after to hit him as soon as in comparison to the 3 he hit me with, however I could not hit him. He’d get at the ropes and get started shifting and shifting. He has a just right left hand. He throws within punches, too, and you do not see them as a result of he is a quick fighter. He strikes at an perspective and throws uppercuts within. In opposition to Stanionis, who fights with an open guard, the ones punches are going to get within. And if Ennis does not knock him down, he’s going to nonetheless harm him.
How does Stanionis win this struggle?
Stanionis has to drive him, however sparsely. He cannot let him suppose as a result of Ennis is a artful, clever fighter. He is entire. There are boxers who hit however don’t seem to be rapid, and a few who’re rapid however do not hit. Ennis is rapid, he hits, he strikes, he is sensible, he is crafty, he research you. There may be no longer a lot Stanionis can do. I fought Rashidi Ellis, who is quicker than Ennis, and I took the entire punches from Ellis and from Ennis, too. The issue is that in opposition to Ennis, ultimately I were given drained from the punches I took. If Ennis hits you within the nostril, he’s going to destroy it. If he hits you within the head, he’s going to knock you out and your hair would possibly not develop again.
Who wins?
I am going for Ennis. I do not know if it is going to be by means of KO. Perhaps. Stanionis is robust and throws just right punches, however I am going with Ennis.
Ian Parker’s perfect bets
Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis
Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis
| Fighter | Making a bet odds |
|---|---|
| Jaron Ennis | -700 |
| Eimantas Stanionis | +450 |
| Raymond Ford | 1400 |
| Thomas Mattice | +750 |
All odds by means of ESPN BET  |
Ennis, a 6-1 favourite, has the brink in all facets of the struggle and I be expecting him to place on a stellar efficiency in what will have to be an action-packed struggle. For those who strongly really feel that Ennis goes to win, you’ll position equivalent wagers on him to win by means of KO/TKO and to win by means of choice. If he wins by means of both way, and also you wager the same quantity on each results, you could possibly be successful. If you wish to take the more secure path, make Ennis the anchor of a parlay and benefit from the cashout on the finish of the night time.
Raymond Ford vs. Thomas Mattice
Sitting as a -1400 favourite, Ford can be taking a look to make a observation. At that having a bet quantity, it would not be of any worth to place Ford in a parlay. Then again, there’s a play that stands proud and that is the reason to take Ford to win by means of choice at -170. I believe this can be a extra aggressive struggle than the chances scream, and primarily based off of Ford’s final two fights going to choice, I will be able to see the similar factor going down right here.
