Jaron Ennis, IBF welterweight boxing champion and Philadelphia native, is PSWA Pro Athlete of the Year
With expectations of being not only the next great Philadelphia fighter but the next great world welterweight champion, Jaron Ennis never felt any pressure.
A lifetime in the ring had left him prepared.
“I focus on doing what I have to do by being in the gym listening to my dad and doing everything I need to do,” he said. “I feel like there’s no pressure for me because I had two brothers that were in this boxing game, and they fought on Showtime and ESPN. All the cameras and stuff were always around before. I feel like this is nothing new for me. There’s no pressure on me at all.”
Prepared and pressure-free, the North Philadelphia fighter known as “Boots” became the IBF welterweight champion in January of 2023 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian in Washington, D.C., then retained the belt with an impressive 10th-round July knockout of Roiman Villa in Atlantic City.
For that, the Philly champion was named Outstanding Professional Athlete by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. Come out and see him get his award on Jan. 17, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. He will be honored along with members of the 1973-74 Stanley Cup Champion Flyers (Living Legend Team), Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (Humanitarian of the Year), members of the Media (PA) Little League squad that reached the 2023 Little League World Series (Team of the Year); the broadcasting duo of Tim Saunders and Steve Coates are being recognized with the PSWA’s Campbell Award for excellence in broadcasting; and many more. Get your tickets for another fabulous, historic night by clicking here.
Bozy Ennis – Jaron’s father and trainer – believes that while his son is on the same level as WBA and WBC champ Terence Crawford and former unified champion Errol Spence, he can be even better when he goes against better fighters.
“Boots is on their level,” he said before the victory over Villa in July. “But the only thing that’s different now is that he never had to go to the next level. Nobody’s ever brought that level out yet. When he gets in there and when somebody that can really make him fight and really make him perform, that’s when you’ll see the real Boots.”
In that fight, it wasn’t as much about the outcome itself as much as it was about how much punishment Villa had taken while still being able to stand. In the 10th, a vicious left-right combination by Ennis put Villa on the canvas and ended the fight to give the rising boxing star his 31st win, 28th knockout and retention of his title.
“I was setting him up,” the 5-foot-10 Ennis said. “I hit him with a big left hand, and I knew he was going down. So, I was waiting for the left shot, and I threw a hook, and I knew he was going so I just threw one more and that was it. I knew they were going to stop it.
“I knew he was a tough guy. I knew I was going to break him down eventually. He had his hands up high and walked forward and walked forward, so I just had to take my time and eventually I would get him.”
That emphatic display of boxing brilliance served notice that Ennis is gunning for anyone willing to step in the ring with him.
The Ennis camp wants a shot at Crawford, who knocked out Spence in July.
“Let’s make it happen,” said Bozy Ennis, who also trained his older sons – retired Farah Ennis and Derek “Pooh” Ennis – for ring success.
The only problem is that there is a rematch clause, meaning it is more likely that Ennis will be fighting someone else before making it to the unified-title promised land.
Among the challengers Ennis is likely to face is unbeaten Eimantas Stanionis.
“I’ll take Stanionis in a heartbeat,” Ennis said. “I’ll tale all the top guys out there.”
For that, Philadelphia’s Outstanding Pro Athlete has been back in the gym.
“He showed you the level that he can go to,” Bozy Ennis said. “Villa is tough. Nobody ever stopped this guy, and the guy can punch.
“Y’all ain’t seen nothing yet.”