Big-time boxing is back at in Atlantic City with a fight fit for the Boardwalk Hall’s hallowed reputation.
IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) has long been tipped as next superstar of the sport. In WBA ruler Eimantas Stanionis (15-0 9 KOs), Ennis has an opponent who could help him rocket towards those exalted levels or bring him crashing painfully down to earth.
The Ring Magazine’s championship belt at 147 pounds is also on the line for this clash between the consensus No. 1 and No. 2 in the division.
Welterweight unification fights, going back to the 1981 epic between Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns, have historically been among some of the most captivating in the sport. It should be acknowledged that it feels as if this high-quality matchup has slipped relatively under the radar.
There are a few reasons for this, from a well-mannered build-up to fight night to underwhelming recent spells for both men. Ennis has not been shy about voicing his frustrations regarding a mandated title defence against Karen Chukhadzhian last November, an opponent he beat via a shutout on the cards in January 2023.
WATCH: Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis on DAZN
After winning his title with a gruelling split-decision win over Radzhab Butaev in April 2022, Stanionis was out of the ring for two years. The postponement and eventual cancellation of a bout with Vergil Ortiz contributed to this enforced hiatus.
Ortiz was also frequently linked to Ennis as Terence Crawford and Errol Spence continued a slow orbit towards their July 2023 undisputed clash. All of those big names are now campaigning up in weight, leaving the welterweight division lighter than usual on star quality. That could all change on Saturday night.
(Matchroom Boxing)
“I want to be the standard of the welterweight division and be with those top guys like Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard,” Ennis said at the pre-fight press conference. “Not too many people can say they have fought for the Ring Magazine and division titles, but on Saturday night, I will, and I will be stamping my legacy right there. We’re going to show the world why I’m the best.
“I’m not going to look for a knockout, but it’s coming. We’re going to have fun. He said, ‘all gas, no breaks’. He’s going to run right into a rock.”
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis odds, betting
Per BetMGM, Ennis is the betting favourite at -400, with Stanionis priced +260. You can get the draw at +1800.
MORE: All you need to know about the Ennis vs. Stanionis undercard
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis prediction
Ennis citing Leonard and Mayweather leaves us in no doubt over the lofty heights he wishes to scale. He also cited Floyd’s famous win over all-action hero Arturo Gatti at the Boardwalk Hall in 2005 as one of his favourite fights.
We have a pleasing clash of styles here. Stanionis’ “all gas, no breaks” line has dominated the build-up and the 2016 Olympian has the pedigree and relentless work-rate to take Ennis into deep waters.
The counterpoint to this is that when a sharpshooter faces a come-forward pressure fighter at the very elite level, the stylist tends to prevail and look pretty good in doing so. Mayweather always prevailed, of course, but for all that Jose Luis Castillo made life tough for him in their first fight, it was hardly a blueprint. He dealt with the likes of Gatti and Ricky Hatton in comprehensive fashion.
Stanionis must not fall into the trap of tearing mindlessly after Ennis. Do that and ‘Boots’ will pick him off The key to the fight for the Lithuanian is his excellent and underrated jab. Stanionis lands the left lead with frequency and variety, opening up gaps for his tenacious follow-up attacks.
If Stanionis gets the jab going, he will force Ennis into some tough spots and the American might deduce the best way out is to punch with his foe. Then, we potentially have an instant classic on our hands.
This is the sort of test Ennis’ team have loudly wanted for years. If their man lives up to the hype and Stanionis brings his best, expect a captivating 12 rounds before Ennis has his had raised as the unified champ.
SN Prediction: Ennis UD 12 (+100)
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