Jaron Ennis delivered a stunning performance in his 154lb debut, knocking out Uisma Lima in under two minutes at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday night. The 28-year-old Philadelphia star, nicknamed Boots, wasted no time reminding fans why he is considered one of boxing’s brightest rising stars.
Ennis dropped Lima three times in just 118 seconds, thrilling the hometown crowd. A powerful right uppercut opened the attack, followed by a rapid series of hooks and flurries that left the Portugal-based Angolan fighter unable to continue. Referee Shawn Clark stopped the fight at 1:58 of the opening round, marking Ennis’ 35th professional victory and his 31st win inside the distance. “The more I move up, the stronger I get. This is my division now. I sent a big message tonight,” Ennis said after the fight.
The message was clearly directed at Vergil Ortiz Jr., the undefeated Texan who holds the WBC interim junior middleweight title. A fight between Ennis and Ortiz is expected in early 2026, with promoter Eddie Hearn describing it as “one of the best fights to be made in American boxing.” Hearn confirmed an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions is already in place, pending Ortiz’s November title defense against Erickson Lubin.
Ennis’ dominant showing also highlighted the benefits of moving up from welterweight, a weight class he struggled to make. Formerly a unified welterweight champion, Ennis often drained himself to reach 147lb, which affected his strength and speed. His father and trainer, Derek “Bozy” Ennis, had long warned that the cut was too taxing. “He was killing himself to make 147. Now we’re seeing the real Boots: closer to 100%. He’s massive, powerful, and finally free,” Hearn said.
Lima, a 10-1 underdog, had little chance to respond. Ennis opened cautiously with jabs, then switched to a southpaw stance and landed a devastating right uppercut. Three hooks followed, sending Lima to the canvas. When Lima tried to rise, Ennis swarmed him with a relentless barrage, resulting in a second knockdown. Lima’s corner threw in the towel after a third fall, ending the fight decisively. “I was trying to test him out, but my pop told me, ‘Don’t play with him,’ so I just went in and went for the kill,” Ennis said.
Hearn praised Ennis’ complete skill set. “I’ve worked with some incredible fighters, but Boots has absolutely everything. He can punch, move, defend, and control the ring. He’s a total package.”
The 154lb division offers Ennis multiple paths to further dominance, including matchups with new titleholders Xander Zayas, Abass Baraou, or Sebastian Fundora, whose title defense against Keith Thurman was recently postponed due to injury. However, none of these fights carry the same weight as a potential clash with Ortiz. Ennis and Ortiz have long been on parallel paths, and their eventual meeting has been widely anticipated.
“It’s going to happen next. He’s got his fight coming up. If he doesn’t win, I’ll fight the winner. I want Vergil Ortiz next,” Ennis said, signaling his eagerness to challenge the top contender in the division.
With his explosive 154lb debut, Jaron Ennis has not only silenced doubters but also set the stage for a major showdown that could define his career. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as he continues to climb the ranks, promising more excitement and drama in the junior middleweight division.
