Undefeated rising welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis reiterated his intention to “take over” the star-studded 147-pound division ahead of his IBF Welterweight Title Eliminator showdown against fellow unbeaten Custio Clayton in the co-main event of action this Saturday, May 14 live on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
“I’m looking to make a big statement come May 14,” said Ennis. “I’m coming to win in dominating fashion and get the knockout. I’m ready to take over this division.”
Trained in his native Philadelphia by his father “Bozy” Ennis, the 24-year-old Ennis has continued to push his already renowned training habits ahead of his upcoming fight and has added elite sparring against a collection of noteworthy fighters including unbeaten U.S. Olympian Charles Conwell and rising contender Paul Kroll.
“I’m feeling great,” said Ennis. “Camp has been going very well and I can’t wait to shine on May 14. I’m ready to rock and roll. We’ve been running a lot more sprints this camp and focusing a little more on conditioning each day, about a half an hour more every session. A lot of it are the normal things we do, like the underwater treadmill and chopping wood, we’re just working ten times harder.”
After a 2021 campaign that saw him knock out former champion Sergey Lipinets in a headlining bout on SHOWTIME in April, before stopping the normally durable Thomas Dulorme in one round in October, Ennis believes that he can shine even brighter and show an even greater range of abilities as the strength of his opposition increases.
“I feel like I’m getting better at taking my time and being more relaxed in the ring,” said Ennis. “I believe that the better the competition I face, the better I’m going to be. We’ve been working on jabbing more and being even more alert and sharper.”
In Clayton, Ennis will be up against an undefeated fighter with considerable pedigree, having competed for his native Canada at the 2012 Olympic games. While Ennis chooses not to focus on studying his opponent, he knows that he’ll have to be ready for a multitude of scenarios to achieve his desired result on fight night.
“I don’t watch tape on people that I fight,” said Ennis. “I let my team focus on that. We’re prepared all the way around. I don’t prepare just one way, because you don’t know how a fighter is going to fight you. So we just prepare for everything.
“This fight is everything to me. This is a big stage and it’s time for me to shine. From here on out, it’s only getting bigger and better. After I do my thing on May 14, we’re just going to keep going up and up. I’m looking to show everyone everything that I’m capable of. My speed, power, defense, ring IQ and footwork. At the end of the night, I’m coming for the knockout. That’s what the fans are coming to see. I’m going to show them what I can do and close the show with a knockout.”
As he continues his ascent up the welterweight rankings, Ennis has his sights set squarely on the division’s two stalwarts, unified WBC, WBA and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBO champion Terence Crawford. Even if a potential Spence-Crawford undisputed title fight comes to fruition first and eventually leads to Ennis fighting for vacant 147-pound titles, he believes those big fights will eventually become a reality.
“It doesn’t matter to me if Spence and Crawford decide to stay in the division and face me,” said Ennis. “I’d love to take the belts away from the champion, but if I have to fight for a vacant belt, I’ll see Spence and Crawford at 154 pounds. They can’t go too far.”
Custio Clayton can fight…don’t underestimate him.
you need a better boxrec resume, fight some big names in the division. Call out the big dogs they can’t ignore you forever. Sorry you need to be tested your chin that is. I know in boxing you do not want to get hit but what is boring is to run all night. I had people come over to watch a ppv fight only to be the only one awake the entire ppv. Never paid for another one after that.
Did it actually take two people to come-up with this comment?
He’s 24 jiminy cricket…give the guys so time. I’m sure he’s going to step up.
Dang, has Ennis lost a round yet??
If not, then he will need stiffer competition because as he approaches his search for a belt, I will need to see more of his inside fighting skills; and how he responds to a pressure fighter, who can provide physical challenges to Ennis. In addition, I want to see how Ennis reacts to getting a little more chin checked. Last, I want to see Ennis keep his hands up more because an opponent will eventually time Ennis’ sharp reflexes and natural athletic gifts.
So far, I am very impressed with Ennis. I was hoping for an eventual Ortiz, Jr. (Ortiz) vs. Ennis collision to occur, but it appears Ortiz may have to fight at 154…we will see.
Losing rounds doesn’t determine if the competition is set at the correct level. Did Roy Jones lose rounds? Rarely
Ennis is the reason the current top 147 fighters are talking about 154.
Dark days ahead for the current 147 and 154 prima donas with Ennis in the horizon. Jaron Ennis, at 24 hasn’t reached his full potential, he just entering his primes , with a nice body frame for 154 or even 160 we could expect great fights against the Charlo Brothers, Crawford, Spence and even Tszyu, I hope he fulfill our expectations
I don’t agree with him moving up as he doesn’t even seem big for 147. If Spence and Crawford move up, boots could still stay at 147 and try and unify. If both Crawford and Spence move up to 154 without fighting each other, they’re not going to entertain a fight with Ennis right away if he did follow them up there. This kid is going to have to carve out his own legacy at 147 because both Spence and Crawford are looking to get paid for the remainder of their careers.
It’s hard to take over a division where the two best fighters in it won’t fight each other. If Crawford and Spence won’t fight each other there is zero chance either fights Boots for a fraction of that payday.
Relax lol. Spence already said he wanted to get all the belts first and he did with the obvious exception of Crawford’s. Crawford is not with Arum so it should be easier to make the fight. Both guys have verbalized in front of the world they wanted to fight, what more do you want lol. Lets see what they do next. If they fight other folks instead of each other, now we may have something to gripe about.
Sorry Mr Ennis you do all the flashy stuff BUT you lack boxings101’s that will eventually catch you out. Millennials can’t see it because they’re addicted to the flash (Floyd Mayweather)
Pardon my ignorance BB, but the term “you lack 101s” , what do you mean specifically?
“Boxings101’s” = basic boxing technique.
Roy Jones didn’t have “boxing 101” and look what he did. Oh and by the way he was “flashy”.
Ennis slides out the wrong way and gets caught by average fighters. Ennis feet too wide and over reaches. Ennis watches his work. Recipe for a disaster. Roy Jones low hands were to make opponents lead. Jones completely different.
You gotta love this guy. Staying professional and hungry but knowing that he may have to carve out his own legacy in a division without the superstars hanging around.
good luck ennis can he take the division time will tell must win against clayton
So, in which fight did Ennis run in? I believe he’s like 26-0 with 24 Ko’s. Hard to run and bang guys out at the same time, the ridiculous comments on this site continue, but I digress.
After this fight, the bag of the year, Al Haymon will put him on PPV!!
I think Clayton has what it takes to pull off an upset here. This guy can fight.
Love his energy exactly what we need in boxing! He’s not scared and 1 punch can end a fight meanwhile Crawford and Spence are getting older and riding on 1 fight they think in their heads makes them the greatest of all times LOL!
Ennis doing what the typical now days fighters do and thats talk their way into a fight by using social media so ok lets feed him to Crawfish he needs to fight somebody thats not a has been or leftovers or in pre retirement status at 147
Conner Benn in 2!