Jaron `Boots` Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis are set to clash in a welterweight title unification bout on Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET).
Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs), the IBF champion, is defending his title for the third time. In his last fight in November, he secured a unanimous decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian, even knocking him down in the fifth round. The judges scored the fight 119-107, 117-109, and 116-110 in favor of Ennis. He had previously dominated Chukhadzhian in January 2023, winning every round on all scorecards.
Trained by his father, Derek `Bozy` Ennis, Ennis possesses an exceptional blend of power and speed, with five of his last seven wins coming by way of stoppage. Known for his excellent footwork and ability to deliver punches from various angles, Ennis aims to unify all four major welterweight titles before moving up to the 154-pound division.
`I`m focused on collecting all the belts, and Stanionis is my current target,` Ennis stated during a training session in Philadelphia. `Winning on Saturday will make me the WBA, IBF, and Ring magazine champion, and then we`ll consider what`s next. But my concentration is entirely on Stanionis. … I`m ranked number one in the division, he`s number two, and I`m completely dialed in and focused on this fight.`
Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs), formerly the WBA `regular` welterweight champion, was promoted to full champion status after Terence Crawford moved to junior middleweight in August 2024. Stanionis was inactive in 2023 due to multiple postponements of a fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. Training at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, Stanionis claims to have had a rigorous training camp and has been `grinding nonstop.`
`Every day in the gym, I approach it as a fight,` Stanionis mentioned during his training in Los Angeles on Tuesday. `I`m locked in and hungry. This will be the best version of myself the world has ever seen.`
`Ennis is elusive, explosive, and considered the future of this division. That`s why I accepted this fight. … This won`t be a tactical chess match; it`s going to be a war. I`m entering the ring to test him, break him, and defeat him. Let`s see how he handles real pressure.`
The key questions are: Can Ennis utilize his superior boxing skills to maintain distance and effectively land combinations? And can Stanionis close the distance and target Ennis`s body to reduce his pace? Andres Ferrari consulted boxing commentator and former junior middleweight champion Raul Marquez, former junior lightweight title contender Thomas Dulorme (who has fought both Ennis and Stanionis), and welterweight contender Roiman Villa, who faced Ennis in 2023, to get their expert opinions. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker also provided his analysis on the main event and the junior lightweight co-main event between Raymond Ford and Thomas Mattice.
Editor`s note: Content has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Raul Marquez, Boxing Analyst, Former Junior Middleweight Champion
The Matchup
I was impressed when I first covered Ennis at Showbox. He is multi-dimensional, attacking from various angles and adapting to any fighting style with game plans A through G. Stanionis, on the other hand, is strong and powerful with decent speed, but Ennis is a technician – athletic, creative, and intelligent, possessing both great power and speed.
Ennis`s Path to Victory
Ennis`s opponents struggle most with his unpredictable attacks from different angles and his seamless switching between stances while delivering varied three- and four-punch combinations. To win, Ennis needs to capitalize on his athleticism, speed, and boxing IQ. He is always thinking ahead.
Ennis`s excellent footwork and upper-body movement make him elusive. Just as you prepare to strike, he`s no longer there. His fluid movement from right to left is almost imperceptible, enabling him to land shots unexpectedly.
Stanionis`s Path to Victory
Stanionis must utilize his strength and power, as he delivers solid combinations and is an experienced and intelligent fighter with a strong amateur background. To win, he needs to aggressively move forward but intelligently, investing in body shots early. By targeting Ennis’s body and arms, he can try to wear him down and reduce his mobility and speed in the later rounds, which is Stanionis`s best chance.
Stanionis needs to employ a strong jab to close the distance, using feints and waist movement while being cautious. He must make the ring feel smaller for Ennis, turning it into a close-quarters fight, as outboxing Ennis is unlikely.
His strategy should involve cutting distance with a varied jab – hard, soft, fast, to the body, head, and arms – aiming to tire Ennis by the sixth round and then capitalize in the latter half of the fight. It takes exceptional conditioning to defeat a highly skilled and fit fighter; breaking him down is the key. Outboxing Ennis isn’t an option for Stanionis.
Prediction
I predict Ennis will win by decision.
Thomas Dulorme, Former Junior Welterweight Title Contender
Ennis`s Path to Victory
Ennis should maintain distance. Stanionis is powerful and hits hard. Ennis needs to use his speed and clean boxing technique to avoid problems. If he allows Stanionis to close in, he will face difficulties.
Stanionis will be aggressive, constantly moving forward and throwing punches, potentially lacking in technique but persistent. In my fight preparation against Ennis, we focused on his right hand and left hook. Though our fight was brief, I found openings for counters. However, Ennis has strong defense and ring movement. To win, he must keep Stanionis at bay. If Stanionis gives Ennis space, Ennis will dictate the pace, making it a challenging night for Stanionis.
Stanionis`s Path to Victory
If Stanionis can exchange punches simultaneously with Ennis, he can hurt him. Stanionis hits with power, but Ennis is more agile. If Stanionis waits to defend and then counter, Ennis will be gone. To trouble Ennis, Stanionis must throw punches at the same time, not allowing Ennis to reset his defense.
When we fought, we aimed to deny Ennis space. If Stanionis does this and lands his punches, he can win. Stanionis needs to be tough and fight aggressively at close range, not letting Ennis establish a rhythm. Marcos Maidana`s fight against Adrien Broner is a good example. Maidana, similar in style to Stanionis—planted, attacking without refined technique—closed the distance, knocked Broner down, and won. Stanionis should emulate this. The ultimate goal is the win, regardless of style.
Prediction
It will be a good fight, but I lean towards Ennis winning by knockout. Control of distance will be key, and Ennis is likely to manage it better.
Roiman Villa, Welterweight Contender
Ennis`s Path to Victory
Having fought Ennis, I know he`s a challenging opponent. Stanionis is a forward-moving tank. Ennis is excellent at landing inside punches, and Stanionis fights with an open guard. Ennis is hard to hit, even on the ropes. When he hits you, it`s like being struck by a brick.
It`s not just power; Ennis has great footwork and waist movement. Andy Cruz, who works with Ennis, confirms he`s very hard to hit, even for an Olympic champion. Against Ennis, landing one punch for every three he lands on you is tough. He`s elusive, even on the ropes. He has a strong left hand and throws fast inside uppercuts at angles, which will penetrate Stanionis`s open guard and cause damage, possibly a knockout.
Stanionis`s Path to Victory
Stanionis must pressure Ennis carefully, not giving him time to think because Ennis is intelligent and complete. He is fast, powerful, moves well, and studies his opponents. There isn`t much Stanionis can do. I`ve faced Rashidi Ellis, who is faster than Ennis, and endured punches from both. Against Ennis, the accumulation of punches becomes tiring. His punches can break your nose or knock you out.
Prediction
I`m picking Ennis to win, possibly by KO. Stanionis is strong, but Ennis is superior.
Ian Parker`s Best Bets
Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis
Ennis, a 6-1 favorite, is expected to dominate. To maximize potential profit on an Ennis win, consider betting equally on him winning by KO/TKO and by decision. For a safer approach, include Ennis as the anchor in a parlay.
Raymond Ford vs. Thomas Mattice
Ford, heavily favored at -1400, aims to make a statement. Betting on Ford to win by decision at -170 offers value, as this fight is expected to be more competitive than odds suggest, mirroring Ford`s recent fights that went to decision.