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With Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (27-0, 25 KOs) set to make his next appearance next weekend in a Showtime co-main event airing live from Las Vegas, Ennis expresses his enthusiasm and plans to climb the welterweight ranks and eventually take over at 147lbs — and it all starts with the work he’s been putting in inside the gym.
“My dad has me working on some new things to get better,” said the 24-year-old who boasts sublime boxing skills and power in both hands. “We’re working on having me be more relaxed in there and just staying sharp and alert, using my jab and going to the body a lot more. I never look for the knockout. I just go in there and do what I’m supposed to do and I let the knockout come to me, which it usually does.”
Ennis continues by reassuring the public that he’s not taking Dulorme lightly, but that he’s really just another obstacle on his way to the top of the heap.
“Dulorme is a good fighter and I don’t take anything away from him,” Ennis said. “He’s fought a lot of great guys, world champions, but I’m on a different level right now. I’m coming to take over the welterweight division and he’s in my way. He’s got to go. I’m coming for all the belts.
“It’s wonderful that I’m getting more and more recognition, but that’s not what I do this for. I’m just ready to take over the entire division. I promise this is just the start for me.”
Thus far Ennis has certainly passed the eye test and appears to be a genuine fast-rising talent within the division, but he is also in a sort of awkward position of being a big threat without bringing the big reward as a true draw. As a fan of the sport, that sort of thing shouldn’t matter much, but as far as the business of boxing goes, it means not a lot of top names are going to be eager just to jump in the ring with him.
So it looks like Ennis will just have to force their hands by fighting his way up the ranks and to a world title opportunity. That path continues with his October 30th fight with Thomas Dulorme.