On Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Jaron 'Boots' Ennis dispatched of Uisma Lima in under one round. Ennis never gave the prohibitive underdog a chance to get started as he struck Lima with a sharp uppercut that stunned him about a minute into the bout. Soon he was on the floor looking up and Ennis. After another trip to the canvas, Lima was getting battered in the corner, when the fight was halted.
It was an emphatic introduction to the junior middleweight class from the former unified welterweight champion.
Jaron Ennis vs Uisma Lima | Fight Highlights
In the aftermath of this performance many were quick to label this a gross mismatch. While others believed that it was an appropriate tune-up bout as he moved up in weight.
Emma Brawley/Matchroom Boxing
Can't both things be true?
Here's the reality of this situation as it relates to boxing and social media. If you are a fan of Ennis and/or Matchroom Boxing, you rationalize this match-up. And if for whatever reason you're not a supporter of Ennis or Eddie Hearn, you lambast it. Fans hate mismatches -- unless somehow it benefits their favored fighters or promoters.
They love to talk about the sanctity of the sport, till those who they live vicariously through make convenient business decisions. It is what it is.
Now, let me say this, coming into this fight I wrote that Lima was not a bad fighter. I stand by my statement. This was a guy who was rated by multiple sanctioning bodies but admittedly was untested at the world-class level. This past weekend he looked like he froze a bit and was blitzed early by Ennis. It happens.
Emma Brawley/Matchroom Boxing
At the same time, I've thought for a long time that Ennis is one of the most naturally talented boxers in the sport. He can switch-hit, possesses power in both hands and is athletic. He's a young man who comes from a fighting family and grew up in tough Philadelphia gyms. The man who originally signed him to a pro contract, the late Cameron Dunkin (who also discovered Terence Crawford out of the amateurs) told me years ago that 'Boots' was the most gifted fighter he ever had.
Now, that remains to be seen, but thus far he's passed the eye test with yours truly. Ennis isn't just a guy with skills, but he's also entertaining and oftentimes spectacular. At age 28, he is now in his physical prime as a prizefighter.
I'm still firmly driving the bandwagon on Ennis. Now, with that said, I do understand the criticism. The reality is that as you see his overall resume', while he's notched a good number of victories (35-0, 31 KOs) his record is really devoid of any real signature victories. So those who are critical of Ennis, do have a point.
WBA
The time is now for Ennis to go big game hunting at junior middleweight. Yeah, he now is the WBA interim junior middleweight champion with his victory on Saturday night. But he better not even think about facing Abass Baraou for the full-fledged WBA belt. Nothing against him, but the Bert Sugar would've said that Baraou isnt even a household name in his own household.
The bottom line is that his next assignment better be against the likes of Vergil Ortiz (who has to get past Erickson Lubin in a few weeks), or some other marquee names in the division like Sebastian Fundora (WBC), Bakhram Murtazaliev (IBF) or Xander Zayas (WBO).
And DAZN should tell him and Hearn that they aren't funding any more of his fights till he faces one of these names. (Yeah, I know I'm being awfully unrealistic and naive here.)
Ring Magazine
The bottom line is 'Boots' is an elite talent. But he's also very unproven.
Again, both can be true.
RIP
I got word from Top Rank Matchmaker, Bruce Trampler, that Alex Wallau, of ABC Sports had passed away at the age of 80 on Friday. I grew watching Wallau as a kid during my formative years as a boxing fan. But he was much more than just a boxing announcer, he was a true 'boxing guy' and is credited for having helped fished out the scam that was the Don King tournament (the United States Boxing Championship Series) in 1977 that were televised by ABC for a short time.
He also served as the clearinghouse for which matches would be shown by the network, and eventually became the president of ABC.
Alex Wallau and Jim Lampley
Jim Lampley -- who began calling fights for ABC in 1986 alongside Wallau -- released this statement upon hearing of his passing:
"As much as any boxer I covered via the vast foundation of knowledge with which he and he alone first blessed me, Alex Wallau was a FIGHTER. His survival in a gruesome battle with throat cancer in the early 1990s was beyond courageous. The simple fact he endured for another thirty years is an example of epic courage. He taught me how to see and call boxing matches, and through that the eventual emblem of my entire fifty year career was a gift from him. I'm devastated that he is gone, but eternally grateful he was here. All his friends and familial survivors have my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy. Thank you forever, Alex."
