Jaron “Boots” Ennis needed just two minutes to obliterate Uisma Lima with a pair of knockdowns to earn the first-round stoppage in his 154-pound debut at Xfinity Mobile Arena in his hometown of Philadelphia.
It was a mismatch on paper that got even worse in training as Ennis (35-0, 31 KO) quickly went to work against an overmatched opponent who had no answers for the gifted former welterweight champion, who is now the interim WBA junior middleweight champion.
“I did what I had to do,” Ennis said. “I’m here at 154 pounds and I made a statement so bring me those names.”
Early on, Ennis and Lima traded left hooks, but “Boots” stepped forward, whipped a left hook to the side of his opponent’s head and followed up with a combination to score the first knockdown of the fight. Lima (14-2, 10 KOs) got back up but was clearly shaken. Ennis refused to let his opponent get away with it and threw another series of punches to Lima’s head and body to put him down again. Although Lima got up again, he had nothing to offer and was torn apart by another combination that forced the referee to stop the fight at 1:58.
“I sent an important message,” Ennis said. “You know what time it is and you know who I want.”
The victory sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between Ennis and undefeated interim WBC champion Vergil Ortiz, who will face Erickson Lubin on November 8. The two were linked for a fight this year, but it didn’t come to fruition. Ennis was criticized for fighting Lima, who had faced no quality opposition during his career. But now that the fight with Lima is over, Ennis believes nothing will stand in the way of a fight against Ortiz in 2026.
“That’s going to happen next,” said Ennis, who kicked off the challenge against the division’s top 154-pounders. “I know (Ortiz) is focused on his fight. I want Vergil Ortiz next but if he doesn’t want it, I’ll fight (Jermell) Charlo, (Sebastian) Fundora or Xander (Zayas). Anyone can have him. This division is mine.”
