Jaron “Boots” Ennis made a remarkable entrance at 154 pounds on Saturday, ending his fight in under a round. The ex-unified welterweight champ (35-0, 31 KOs) dominated Portugal’s Huisma Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) with two knockdowns before securing a first-round TKO in front of an energetic crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. Ennis proclaimed, “I sent a big message… You know what time it is and who I want next.”
This marked his first fight since unifying at 147 pounds in April, and if he overcomes Erickson Rubin in November, a highly anticipated bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) could follow. Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Ennis, predicting he will overpower Ortiz, calling their potential matchup the best fight in American boxing.
Lima, a strong southpaw from Angola known for halting undefeated streaks, was outmatched by Ennis, who showed great agility and power after moving up from 147 pounds. Ennis initially fought orthodox but switched to southpaw mid-round, landing a powerful right uppercut that floored Lima. He followed up with a brutal two-punch combination for the first knockdown.
Ennis credited his team’s advice for helping him avoid jabs and capitalize on openings. Shortly after, Lima was knocked down again, and with Ennis pressing the attack, referee Sean Clark stopped the fight at 1:58. Ennis expressed confidence in his strength as he moves upward in weight, feeling rejuvenated and ready for tougher competition.
Though some criticized Ennis for facing a lesser-known opponent for his debut at 154, his dominant performance showed he’s prepared to challenge all top fighters and title holders in the division. Ennis emphasized his goal to fight Ortiz next but is open to others like Jermell Charlo, Sebastian Fundora, and Bakram Murtazaliev as he pursues the belt at 154 pounds.
Fan Take: Ennis’ explosive debut at junior middleweight sends a clear warning to the division’s elite—he’s a force to be reckoned with. For fight fans, this signals thrilling matchups ahead and the potential rise of a new dominant champion shaping the future of the sport.
