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Jaron Ennis is hoping this is the year that he finally razes down the barrier separating him from welterweight supremacy.
The 24-year-old welterweight ace from Philadelphia is coming off a breakout 2021 that saw him snuff out durable veterans Sergey Lipinets and Thomas Dulorme in impressive fashion. Those performances have had the boxing world chanting the name ‘Boots’ alongside the established likes of welterweight titleholders Terence Crawford (WBO) and Errol Spence Jr. (WBC/IBF).
Not surprisingly, Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) himself thinks it’s about time for him to get in the ring with the best.
“This is the year for me to take over,” Ennis told FightHype.com. “Like I said before, I’m expecting to get at least one belt this year and then onto the next. Bigger and better.”
Ennis expects to fight several times this year, depending on the magnitude of the bouts. He will enter training camp toward the end of January, he said.
“Honestly, probably two or three fights, but if we can get two big fights that would be great,” Ennis said. “I gotta stay busy.”
Cognizant of the sport’s crippling politics, Ennis believes he can cut through the business logjam as long as he continues to dazzle inside the ring. After a long period of feasting on lower opposition and gutting through a promotional lawsuit, Ennis is raring to ensconce himself within the upper echelons of the boxing food chain.
“They can’t keep putting me to the side,” Ennis said of the champions in his division. “I’m gonna make my statement in this boxing game in the welterweight division. I will start this year.”
He added, “I will be world champion this year. No more games, I’m not playing. I’m here to take over the division.”
Conquering the 147-pound division is just the start. The switch-hitting Ennis envisions himself becoming a three-division world champion at some point.
“Tryna be undisputed welterweight world champion, and then go do the same thing at 154 and then 160,” Ennis said. “It’s the start right here.”