Jaron Ennis impresses in his 154lb debut by destroying Uisma Lima in one round | boxing

Jaron Ennis needed less than two minutes to remind boxing why he has long been considered the next big thing in the sport. The 28-year-old Philadelphian nicknamed Boots flattened Uisma Lima on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, marking an explosive debut at 154 pounds and setting the stage for much bigger challenges that await him next year.

Enes dropped the powerful but unheralded Lima three times in 118 seconds, electrifying the hometown fans in his corner. His right uppercut began to break down, followed by two powerful volleys that left his Portugal-based Angolan opponent unable to continue. Referee Sean Clarke overturned that at 1:58 of the opening round, giving the undefeated Ennis his 35th professional win, his 31st inside the distance, and the kind of statement that resonates across the sport even in mismatches. “The higher you go, the stronger you get,” Ennis said afterward. “This is my department now. I sent a big message tonight.”

That message was directed directly to Virgil Ortiz Jr. The unbeaten Texan, who holds the interim WBC junior middleweight title, is expected to meet Ennis in early 2026 in what promoter Eddie Hearn described as “one of the best fights that can be made in American boxing.” Matchroom Boxing’s top team has confirmed that an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions is already in place, pending Ortiz’s title defense in November against Eriksson Lubin.

Saturday’s quick destruction doubled as vindication for Ennis, the former unified welterweight champion who spent years wearing himself down to make it down to 147 pounds. His father and coach, Derek “Bosie” Ennis, has long said the welterweight cut cost him strength and sharpness. “He was killing himself to get 147,” Hearn said. “Now we see the real shoes: closer to 100%. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s finally free.”

Lima, a fringe contender and a 10-1 underdog, barely had time to test him. After probing with a few jabs, Ennis switched to a south foot stance and sneaked in an uppercut right that lifted Lima’s head like a hinge before landing three more hooks that dropped him flat on his back.

After beating the count, Lima’s balance was gone and his eyes told the story. Ennis moved coolly, drowning him with another barrage of punches that dropped him to the canvas for the second time. When Lima got back up, he stepped back into a neutral corner, where Ennis closed the distance and let go of his hands. The barrage of punches left the referee no choice but to intervene when the towel flew from Lima’s corner kick. When it was over, Ennis looked almost ashamed at how easy it was. “I was trying to test it,” he said. “But my father told me: ‘Don’t play with him.’” So I went out there and went for the kill.

After that, Hearn was hyper. “I’ve worked with some great fighters over the years, and I think this guy is the best I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “Some fighters can hit, some are defensive geniuses, some have great moves. The shoes have absolutely everything.”

There is no shortage of opportunities for Ennis in a deep 154-pound division, including new belt holders Xander Zayas and Abbas Barao or the popular Sebastian Fundora, whose hand injury last week led to the postponement of his title defense against Keith Thurman.

But no one can move the needle quite like Ortiz. The two have orbited each other for years, twin comets on parallel paths, and their eventual collision has been long expected and eagerly awaited. “It will happen next,” Ennis said. “It’s almost time for his fight. If he doesn’t win, I’ll fight the winner of this one. I want the next Virgil Ortiz.”