When you watch Jaron “Boots” Ennis do his thing, you can imagine his potential opponents saying to themselves, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you!” The IBF welterweight champion, who faces David Avanesyan on Saturday, July 13 in Philadelphia, is too good for his own good.
Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) is a complete boxer. Blessed with speed, power, radar defense, exemplary technique and a high ring IQ, the Philadelphia-born southpaw is still untested in an eight-year professional career. The only question hanging over him is whether he can take a punch.
LOOK: Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. David Avanesyan, exclusively on DAZN
Boots’ next opponent, Avanesyan, can certainly pack a punch. However, the problem the Russian-born Armenian will have to face will be finding something to hit. The challenger cannot match Ennis in terms of speed and skill, so he will pay a heavy price if he gets too ambitious.
Avanesyan’s limitations were mercilessly exposed by pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, who stopped him in six rounds in December 2022. Ennis will most likely inflict a similar beating on the 35-year-old slugger in this homecoming title defense before moving on to bigger things.
The Jugo Mobile takes an in-depth look at the career of Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
What was Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ amateur record?
Ennis had a 58-3 record in the unpaid ranks. In 2015, he won three national championships, including the National Golden Gloves and the National Junior Championships.
Despite winning the Olympic trials, he suffered a narrow defeat to the far more experienced Gary Antuanne Russell, which derailed Ennis’ plans to compete at Rio 2016. However, the gifted youngster turned professional and never looked back.
Did Terence Crawford dodge Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis?
After Crawford became the undisputed welterweight champion by stopping Errol Spence Jr. in a superfight, he was ordered to face Ennis, who was the IBF mandatory challenger.
However, Crawford, who was installed as the pound-for-pound number one after his career-defining victory, was contractually obligated to give Spence a rematch, and also wanted to secure a dream fight against super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez.
Spence pulled out of the rematch and underwent eye surgery earlier this year. In response, Crawford relinquished the IBF championship and Ennis outpointed Karen Chukhadzhian to win the vacant title.
Crawford will make his junior middleweight debut against WBA champion Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles. While it would be harsh to suggest that “Bud” has evaded Ennis, he is in no rush to face him and likely views facing the unbeaten southpaw as high risk and low reward.
Will Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis become the pound-for-pound number one?
In a recent Ring Magazine Article“The Boxing Bible” predicted that Ennis, 27, would become the pound-for-pound king.
You never know what can happen in this sport, but Ennis has all the tools to become the best boxer in the world. He just needs the opportunity to prove it.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ record, statistics and biography
- Nationality: American
- Born: June 26, 1997
- Height: 5-10
- Reach: 74 inches
- Total fights: 31
- Record: 31-0 (28 knockouts)
