Yes, keeping up a streak of knockouts year after year? It’s no easy feat. Every boxing fan knows that. But it’s the ones who defy the odds—guys like Naoya Inoue—who carve out their legacy and truly earn the title of the best of the best. Take Jaron “Boots” Ennis for example. Since turning pro in 2016, he’s been on a tear—delivering knockout after knockout, year after year, all while maintaining an undefeated record. But then came 2024, and things took a turn. He faced off against his IBF mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian for a second time.

If you watched that bout, you saw it. The 28-year-old Ukrainian gave Boots all kinds of problems from round 1. It wasn’t just another opponent stepping into the ring—it felt like Boots was not his usual self. And yeah, let’s be real—Boots struggled.

Now, Jaron Ennis has a different challenge ahead. In less than a week, he’s stepping into the ring with WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis for a unification bout. And recently, Jaron Ennis finally spoke up about why the trilogy with Chukhadzhian never materialized. And why, instead, he’s locked in on Stanionis. A few days ago, in an interview with Way Up with Angela Yee, she mentioned how his dad Bozy Ennis, who also happens to be his trainer, once said he thought Boots might’ve been “trying too hard” to score a knockout in that fight against Karen Chukhadzhian. So she asked Boots if he agreed with that assessment of his father.

And Boots? He kept it real. It wasn’t about trying too hard for him. From his perspective, that fight was tough for a whole different reason. Because it was against a guy he already beat (earlier in 2023). “In my last fight, I fought a guy I beat already. I beat him 12 nothing,” he stated. “People don’t understand that it’s hard to fight guys like that,” he added. Clearly, Ennis didn’t feel like there was anything to prove with that matchup.

He moreover admitted that “I didn’t really want to fight the guy.” But still, he fought right? Why? Because “I was forced to fight him.” The 33-0 boxer admitted that he had to fight him to keep his IBF title. “The IBF made me fight him. It’s boxing. I got to do what I got to do.” Mandatory title defenses are part of the game, even if the opponent doesn’t excite you. Boots admitted it was a frustrating situation, but he still handled business. Even though he didn’t love the fight, “It made me do things a lot smarter in this camp, a lot better. I can’t wait [to fight Stanionis],” he stated confidently.

Anyway, while Jaron Ennis wasn’t exactly thrilled about facing Karen Chukhadzhian, that’s definitely not the case with Eimantas Stanionis. Boots is hyped. Part of that is because Stanionis is coming in undefeated—15 wins, 9 of those by knockout. The idea of handing someone their first loss? That’s exactly the kind of energy that brings the best out of him. So how does Boots see it going down?

Anything Stanionis can do, Jaron Ennis does better

On April 12, Jaron Ennis will step into the ring against fellow undefeated champion Eimantas Stanionis in a huge unification bout for the IBF and WBA welterweight titles at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. And Boots is more than ready to show the world he’s the top dog in the division. “I’m the best in the world in the Welterweight division,” Jaron Ennis said on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube show Make The Days Count.  “Whatever he does, I do better… I never get tired. It’s going to be a long night for him… It’s time to Claim The Crown,” the Philadelphia native stated.

Moreover, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, is also as confident as ever. He believes this fight is Boots’ chance to solidify his spot as one of boxing’s elite. And with both guys bringing unbeaten records and contrasting styles to the table, Hearn thinks this could be an all-out war. Fans and experts alike see Ennis vs. Stanionis as a true clash between the two best welterweights in the game right now. Since Terence Crawford vacated his titles, both fighters have been waiting for a defining moment to take the crown—and now, here it is.

With two undefeated champs, two belts on the line, and a lot of pride at stake, don’t be surprised if this one turns out to be one of the best fights of 2025. Do you think Jaron Ennis will be able to secure a knockout victory this year? Do let us know your thoughts with us below.