What Jaron 'Boots' Ennis accomplished in under two minutes on Saturday night wasn't just a victory—it was a terrifying declaration of intent that should send shockwaves through the entire 154-pound division.
The 28-year-old Philadelphia fighter needed a mere 118 seconds to completely dismantle Uisma Lima in his junior middleweight debut, delivering a performance so dominant it felt less like a prize fight and more like a public execution. Fighting before an electrified hometown crowd at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, Ennis dropped his sturdy but overmatched opponent three times in rapid succession before referee Shawn Clark mercifully ended the contest at 1:58 of the very first round.
But here's where it gets controversial—this wasn't just another mismatch between a rising star and a trial horse. What we witnessed was the emergence of a fighter who claims he's actually getting stronger as he moves up in weight, directly challenging one of boxing's most sacred conventions about fighters leaving their power behind when they change divisions. "The more I move up, the stronger I get," Ennis declared afterward, making a statement that defies conventional boxing wisdom. "This is my division now. I sent a big message tonight."
And this is the part most people miss—that message wasn't really for Lima, but for one man specifically: the undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr., who currently holds the WBC's interim junior middleweight title. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed what boxing fans have been dreaming about for years—an agreement is already in place for Ennis to face Ortiz in early 2026, pending Ortiz's November title defense against Erickson Lubin. Hearn didn't mince words, calling it "one of the best fights to be made in American boxing."
Saturday's destruction served as powerful vindication for Ennis and his team, who had long argued that the former unified welterweight champion was literally draining himself to make the 147-pound limit. His father and trainer, Derek "Bozy" Ennis, had repeatedly claimed the brutal weight cuts were robbing his son of both strength and sharpness. Promoter Eddie Hearn put it even more bluntly: "He was killing himself to make 147. Now we're seeing the real Boots: closer to 100%. He's massive, powerful and finally free."
The technical breakdown of the fight itself was a masterclass in efficient violence. After initially probing with jabs, Ennis switched to a southpaw stance and delivered a concussive right uppercut that snapped Lima's head back violently. What followed was a blistering three-punch combination that sent the Portugal-based Angolan fighter crashing to the canvas. When Lima somehow beat the count, his unsteady legs and glazed eyes told the entire story. Ennis moved in with chilling purpose, unleashing another torrent of punches that produced two more knockdowns before the towel came flying from Lima's corner.
Perhaps the most revealing moment came after the fight, when Ennis admitted he was initially just "trying to test him out," until his father warned him, "Don't play with him." The resulting "go for the kill" mentality produced one of the most devastating performances of the year.
Now here's where opinions might diverge—Hearn's post-fight assessment that Ennis is "the best I've ever worked with" might strike some as promoter hyperbole, especially considering the legendary fighters he's promoted throughout his career. But when he elaborated that "some fighters can punch, some are defensive geniuses, some have great footwork—Boots has absolutely everything," he raised a fascinating question: Are we witnessing the development of boxing's next truly complete fighter?
The 154-pound division offers no shortage of compelling opportunities for Ennis beyond Ortiz, including newly crowned champions Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou, or the popular Sebastian Fundora (whose hand injury recently postponed his title defense against Keith Thurman).
But let's be honest—none of those matchups carry the same seismic impact as a showdown with Ortiz. These two undefeated phenoms have been on parallel trajectories for years, like twin comets destined to eventually collide. "It's going to happen next," Ennis confirmed. "He's got his fight coming up. If he don't win, I'll fight the winner of that. I want Vergil Ortiz next."
So I'll leave you with this thought to debate in the comments: Is Jaron Ennis truly the most complete fighter in boxing today, or are we getting ahead of ourselves based on what was essentially a showcase fight against an overmatched opponent? And more importantly—if both he and Ortiz win their upcoming bouts, does this become the most anticipated American boxing match of 2026? Share your thoughts below—I'm genuinely curious where the boxing community stands on this!
