THIS weekend, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis seeks to stamp his authority on the welterweight division as he collides with fellow 147lb world champion, Eimantas Stanionis.
Ahead unification clash of their, well-respected coach of Gervonta Davis, Kenny Ellis, has laid out his prediction for the fight and made a niche comparison of Stanionis and a British world title challenger from the 1970’s.
Ennis, 33-0, (29 KOs), is recognised by many as the standout fighter in the welterweight division. But his ability to make the weight has come into question lately, following a below-par performance in the second defence of his IBF title against Karen Chukhadzhian last November.
Nevertheless, Ennis has opted to remain at 147lbs and pursue the undisputed crown rather than move up to super-welterweight. Ennis can add the WBA title to his IBF if he overcomes Stanionis, 15-0 (9 KOs), at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Yet, despite both men being undefeated world champions, Ellis’ predicted a dominant win for his fellow American on Saturday night, posting on his Instagram that he expects ‘Boots’ to get the victory ‘within five rounds’.
Interestingly, Ellis went on to declare that Stanionis has ‘the exact same style’ as Cambridgeshire-born Dave Boy Green, 37-4 (29 KOs), who was stopped twice in two difficult world title challenges against Carlos Palomino and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard in 1977 and 1980, respectively.
Like Green, Stanionis adopts an intelligent yet aggressive front-footed style, rarely taking a backwards step while comfortable exchanging in the pocket. There are also similarities in disguising and varying their attacks to the body and head while banking on their toughness to outlast opponents in a ‘phone booth’ brawl.
Green would hang up the gloves in 1981 without a world title to his name, largely due to the quality of welterweight campaigners at the time than a lack of skill, with wins over former WBC champion John H. Stracey proving a testament to the abilities of the ‘Fenland Tiger’.
