Jaron "Boots" Ennis Annihilates Uisma Lima in Junior Middleweight Premiere

Philadelphia, PA – Jaron "Boots" Ennis delivered a brutal statement in his debut at 154 pounds, dispatching Uisma Lima with a first-round technical knockout in front of a raucous crowd at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. The former unified welterweight champion wasted no time in establishing his dominance, dropping Lima twice before the referee intervened at 1:58 of the opening round.

Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs), who relinquished his IBF welterweight title to facilitate the move up in weight, showcased the speed and power that have made him one of boxing’s most feared competitors. Lima (14-1, 10 KOs), a native of Angola residing in Portugal, entered the bout with an undefeated record and a reputation for upsetting prospects, but he proved to be no match for Ennis’s superior athleticism and ring generalship.

"I sent a big message," Ennis proclaimed after the fight. "You already know what time it is and you know who I want next."

The victory marks Ennis’s first appearance since his April unification bout against Eimantas Stanionis, where he secured a hard-fought decision win to claim the IBF welterweight title. The move to 154 pounds had been anticipated for some time, with Ennis citing the increasing difficulty of making the 147-pound limit as a primary factor.

"Until 154, this guy has been fighting at 60 or 70 percent of his capacity," said Eddie Hearn, Ennis’s promoter from Matchroom Sport. "I’m telling you now, he’s 28 years of age, this is the future of the sport of boxing. This is the pound-for-pound No. 1 in waiting. There is nobody at 154, 160 or dare I say 168 who can beat this guy. We are coming for everybody."

The dominant performance immediately ignited speculation about Ennis’s next opponent, with a potential showdown against Vergil Ortiz Jr. looming large. Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) is scheduled to face Erickson Lubin in November, and a victory would seemingly pave the way for a highly anticipated clash with Ennis.

"Line them up and he will knock them out," Hearn stated emphatically. "Vergil Ortiz will get destroyed by Jaron Ennis. I will bet the house on it with [Ortiz promoter] Oscar De La Hoya. It’s the best fight in boxing in America. It’s a beautiful fight. [Ortiz] is a great fighter but I’m telling you, [Ennis] is another level."

Lima, despite his undefeated record, faced a significant step up in competition against Ennis. The 32-year-old southpaw had built his record primarily against lesser-known opponents in Europe. The disparity in experience and skill was evident from the opening bell.

Ennis started the fight in an orthodox stance, carefully assessing Lima’s movements and reactions. Midway through the first round, he seamlessly switched to southpaw, immediately disrupting Lima’s rhythm. A sharp right uppercut from the southpaw stance visibly wobbled Lima, prompting Ennis to unleash a relentless attack.

"I just listened to my team to stay behind the jab and stay relaxed but I peeped [Lima] started jumping around a little bit," Ennis explained. "So, I touched the hook to the body and tried to come up top a little bit and that was the first knockdown."

A flurry of punches, culminating in a clean two-punch combination, sent Lima crashing to the canvas. He rose on unsteady legs, but Ennis sensed the finish and wasted no time in resuming his assault.

"A second flurry from an aggressive Ennis dropped Lima a second time shortly after," an observer said.

Trapped in the corner, Lima was unable to withstand Ennis’s relentless pressure. A powerful left uppercut rocked him, forcing referee Shawn Clark to step in and halt the fight at 1:58 of the first round.

"I did what I had to do. I’m here at 154 and made a statement. Let’s bring them names, bring them," Ennis declared. "I feel like the more I go up [in weight], the stronger I am going to get. I was fighting at 147 for my whole professional career. It was time to go."

Ennis acknowledged the criticism he received for choosing Lima as his opponent for his 154-pound debut, but he insisted that he is ready to face the best fighters in the division.

"[The Ortiz fight] is going to happen next," Ennis said. "I know he has his fight coming up and is focused on his fight. If you don’t win, I’ll fight Lubin but I want Vergil Ortiz next. If we can’t get Vergil Ortiz next, I heard that baby cub [Jermell] Charlo was calling me out, too. He could get it next. [Sebastian] Fundora, Bahkram [Murtazaliev], he can get it. Xander [Zayas] can get it. I’m belt chasing, this is my division. 154 is mine, I’m on tour."

The junior middleweight division is currently populated by a number of talented fighters, including WBO champion Tim Tszyu, WBC champion Jermell Charlo (who is expected to face Canelo Alvarez next), IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, and WBA champion Erislandy Lara. Ennis’s arrival adds another layer of intrigue to the division and sets the stage for a series of potentially explosive matchups.

Ennis’s team believes that his natural strength and power will be even more pronounced at 154 pounds. The move up in weight will also allow him to focus more on training and less on the rigors of weight cutting.

"I think [Lima] was trying to be smart and not fight like how he usually fights because he didn’t want to get caught early," Ennis stated. "But I felt way different. Even fight week, I felt phenomenal. I felt rejuvenated and excited."

The victory over Lima serves as a resounding statement of intent from Ennis. He has clearly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the junior middleweight division, and his pursuit of a world title is now firmly underway. The boxing world eagerly awaits his next move, with the potential clash against Vergil Ortiz Jr. representing a defining moment in his career.

Ennis’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, did not hold back in his assessment of Ennis’s future, stating that he believes Ennis has the potential to become the pound-for-pound king of boxing.

Hearn concluded: "This is the future of the sport of boxing."

Ennis’s next fight is not yet scheduled, but all indications point towards a significant step up in competition. The junior middleweight division is now on notice: Jaron "Boots" Ennis has arrived.