We saw an exceptional performance by a special fighter on Saturday night. Welterweight star Jaron “Boots” Ennis defeated Roiman Villa by 10th-round TKO at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
For ten rounds, Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) was dominant; he hit Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) with every punch in his arsenal, which included a beautiful jab, incredible combinations, great speed, and vicious power.
The Philadelphia native, who had tremendous fan support in Atlantis City, used the jab early and utilized his power late. According to CompuBox, Ennis had a 164-57 edge in power shots.
Photo: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
“I was breaking him down, and I came out victorious,” Ennis said after the win. “I knew he was a tough kid. I just had to be smart and take my time and keep touching and touching, and eventually, I was going to get him. I was setting him up.”
In the 10th, Ennis, who hurt the iron-chinned Villa in Round 6, dropped him with a beautiful left-right combination that put the bloodied Villa on the canvas and ended the night 1:27 into the round.
“I hit him with a big left hand, and I knew he was going down,” he said. “So I was waiting for the left shot, and I threw a hook, and I knew he was going, so I just threw one more, and that was it. I knew they were going to stop it.”
Ennis was happy with his performance but felt he needed to listen to his corner more.
“My performance was good; I could have listened to my corner a little more,” Ennis said. “My dad wanted me to throw more body shots and give him more angles and not stand in front of him. I was getting hit with shots I wasn’t supposed to get hit with. I appreciate Villa taking this fight. Hats off to him and his family. I appreciate him for coming in and being a warrior.”
Following the victory, the 26-year-old called out the top welterweights, including the winner of Errol Spence and Terence Crawford.
“I want the winner of Errol Spence and Terence Crawford,” said Ennis. “Let’s make it happen. I’ll take on Eimantas Stanionis in a heartbeat. I want to get into the ring one more time before the end of the year to make it three fights. Stanionis, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas, all the top guys out there. Let’s make these fights happen.”
A fight with Spence or Crawford probably won’t happen because they have a rematch clause. Plus, those two fighters reportedly could fight the rematch at 154, so unfortunately, Ennis probably does not get those fights, at least not 147 pounds.
However, maybe Stanionis, Thurman, or Ugas could be a little more realistic, but not too many fighters will be willing to step into the ring with a guy as talented as Jaron “Boots” Ennis!
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