LAST night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the difference between a good fighter and a great one was on full display. A venue renowned for hosting legendary bouts may have witnessed the emergence of a generational talent as Jaron Ennis unified the welterweight division.
The Philadelphian secured a sixth-round victory against Eimantas Stanionis after the Lithuanian’s corner halted the fight, opting not to send their fighter out for the seventh. Billed as Ennis’s toughest test to date, this was the defining moment that would either validate the hype or temper the expectations of “Boots” becoming what promoter Eddie Hearn believes he can be.
From the opening bell, the IBF champion used his jab to keep the WBA titleholder at bay. Ennis’s uppercut emerged later in the round, a warning to Stanionis to approach cautiously. A right hand to the body slipped around the guard, and while Stanionis landed a counter left, the American dictated the pace.
In the second, “Boots” began stringing together combinations, all stemming from his jab. His hands flowed freely, targeting Stanionis’s midsection. The Lithuanian briefly found success with an explosive left hook, which Ennis absorbed. When Stanionis erred, Ennis capitalised, landing another punishing uppercut.
By the third, Ennis’s jab was sharp and consistent. Backed into a corner, he unleashed an uppercut and deftly manoeuvred around his opponent. Stanionis kept hunting but threw too sparingly. The 30-year-old from Kaunas landed a right hand, a highlight-reel moment, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum. As the round closed, a counter left to Stanionis’s head rocked him off balance.
The fourth saw Ennis target the body in a competitive exchange. Up close, both traded blows, but a Philly uppercut followed by a two-punch combination ending in a right hook boosted Ennis’s confidence. Now brimming with swagger, he showboated for the crowd. Grazing the ropes, he landed a counter uppercut that thrilled his fans.
Stanionis fought back in the fifth, capitalising on moments of Ennis’s complacency—a flaw that has occasionally hindered him. Despite his prodigious talent, Ennis’s belief in his superiority can leave him vulnerable in a sport where one punch can change everything. Fortunately, his chin held firm. With a minute left, an Ennis uppercut bloodied Stanionis’s nose.
As the sixth round began, Ennis looked like a champion. A right to the body and another uppercut underscored his dominance. A looping hook further bloodied Stanionis’s nose, followed by three pulverising body shots that backed him up. With 30 seconds remaining, Ennis unleashed a barrage, landing three uppercuts that dropped Stanionis. The Lithuanian rose and traded blows until the bell, both fighters locking eyes as they returned to their corners.
In Stanionis’s corner, a conversation quickly ended the night. Having seen enough, they prioritised the long-term health of a fighter who had competed only twice in three years. The punishment would only have worsened.
With the fight waved off, Ennis, 27, claimed the IBF and WBA welterweight titles, separating himself from the pack on a stage where Tyson, Duran, Lewis, and Gatti have all left their mark. While he has a long road to join that pantheon of greats, the signs are promising.
Ennis’s unbeaten record improves to 34-0 (30 KOs), while Stanionis, suffering his first defeat, now stands at 15-1 (9 KOs).
