NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Jaron “Boots” Ennis sat with his arms folded across the table and stared at his latest opponent, Uisma Lima, telling him their boxing match would be short and sweet.
“In and out like a robbery,” Ennis, 28, said with a smile.
Confidence is a necessity in boxing – a fighter must believe that they will defeat their opponent regardless of the odds. But Ennis, the Philadelphia native, seemed so sure of himself in that moment. Granted, he was a heavy favorite, but this was his first fight in the 154-pound junior middleweight division.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Jaron Ennis celebrates his victory over Eimantas Stanionis to capture the IBF, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
Still, he backed up every word, knocking Lima down twice before a first-round stoppage to be awarded the interim WBA junior middleweight belt on October 11 in his hometown. When you’re an undefeated boxer who has beaten all but four of your opponents as a pro (35-0), it’s hard not to be overconfident.
But for Ennis, the canvas, rope and gloves feel completely at home. There is a consolation because it is, after all, the family business.
“I guess just being around the boxing game for so long and watching my brothers come up, I kind of knew what to expect,” Ennis told Pakinomist Digital during a recent interview in New York City. “I knew what was going on. So I’m just comfortable wherever I am, whether it’s in the ring, doing interviews. Wherever I am, I’m always comfortable. I kind of see everything already – I’ve been here before.”
WWE STAR JIMMY USO OPENS UP ABOUT JOINING BROTHER AGAIN FOR MILESTONE MATCH AT WRESTLEPALOOZA
In Philadelphia, the surname Ennis rings a bell in the boxing community. It starts with Derek “Bozy” Ennis, “Boot’s” father and trainer, who was naturally tougher on his boy than the rest of his clients.
“It’s expected because he knows what I can do,” “Boots” said of his father’s training. “I’ve got to deliver, so that’s what I’m on. I don’t take the criticism from my dad hard – it’s actually motivation for me to keep going.”
“Boots” added that he prefers the tough love, saying, “I don’t want no yes men around me.” He wants to know what he is doing right or wrong.
But his brothers also laid the foundation for that. Derek “Pooh” Ennis and Farah “The Quiet Storm” Ennis were both professional fighters in their own right with high expectations, although they never competed for a world title like their younger brother.
“Very supportive of each other. They just led the way,” “Boots” said of his brothers’ influence on him. “They showed me what to do and what not to do and I just followed their direction and always stayed in some kind of shape and ready. You never know when you’re going to get that call. So, that’s what I do, try to stay in some kind of shape, try to live the right lifestyle outside of boxing if I have to get a call and I’ll be ready.”
So since he was in a jumper, “Boots” ran around his father’s gym observing, training and understanding what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Jaron Ennis poses for photos during Media Day ahead of the IBF welterweight title fight against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
“I’ve seen it all, so I know what it takes,” said “Boots”. “I know how everything goes and I just have that confidence because I’ve put in the work. I know what I have to do and I know what I did and I know nobody can do anything to me. I’m fit, I’m doing everything right, I’m not cutting corners. My training camps are going well so that’s definitely where my confidence comes from.”
Although it was his third time fighting in the South Philly arena earlier this month, “Boots” considered his first round knockout of Lima a “full circle moment” because of how important this fight was, even though Lima wasn’t the biggest name in the game. It was “Boot’s” first fight in a new division after previously being the unified welterweight champion, holding both the IBF and WBA titles before making the jump to junior middleweight.
He has trained his entire life to reach this point in the sport where the glorified “best pound-for-pound” debate involves his name in some capacity. And he doesn’t mind the pressure or the expectations, especially given his family history in the sport.
It was showcased with his patented confidence, which was not too quiet after the fight when he called out those in his new weight class, including Vergil Ortiz Jr., the WBC interim champion.
DEONTAY WILDER, NEARING 40, SAYS HE’S ‘DOWN’ TO FIGHT JAKE PAUL AS HE HAS ’10 YEARS LEFT’ IN HIS CAREER
It is a fight that is ongoing and expected in 2026 after Ortiz fights on November 8th.
“I want to knock them down one by one. I want to show everyone why I’m the best in the world,” he said.
The pound-for-pound conversation usually revolves around Terence “Bud” Crawford, especially after defeating Canelo Álvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. He became the only male fighter in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in three different weight classes, but that’s exactly what “Boots” is gunning for.
Jaron Ennis (L) and Eimantas Stanionis (R) during their fight for the Ring Magazine, IBF world & WBA world welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
In fact, some compare “Boots” to Crawford, but the former is not a fan of it. Not because he doesn’t respect Crawford’s fighting style, but rather they are two separate entities in his mind.
“We’re two totally different fighters. I don’t like it when they compare me and him together because we don’t fight anything alike. He has his style and I have my style,” “Boots” said.
If there’s one thing “Boots” would like to be compared to when it comes to Crawford, it’s their legacy in boxing. Crawford is in the twilight of his career, while “Boots” is in his prime. The potential is there to be the best pound-for-pound in the sport, and “Boots” believes the conversation will only grow as he works his way through the 154-pound class.
“My legacy, as I’ve said, I want to be a multi-division champion and I want to show the world that I really am. And I will,” he said. “We started at [147 pounds] and I was lineal champion at 147 – I’m in the history books at 147. Now we’re at 154 now and we just keep going. 154, 160 and possibly 168.”
“Boots” simply replied, “Facts” when asked if he believes he will achieve the best pound-for-pound boxing mark at some point in his career. Again that quiet confidence as he continued to smile.
Jaron Ennis celebrates his victory over Eimantas Stanionis to capture the IBF, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)
But the weight of those expectations has the ability to crush the shoulders of the fighter burdened with them. But “Boots” has the skills and support system needed to go through the hard-fought journey, which includes his mother, who he says will do whatever it takes to support his dream.
“Family means everything. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “My brothers and my dad also paved the way for me and my mom. They showed me what to do and what not to do and stuff like that. And treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s how I carry myself.”
