"Boots" Ennis Stops Stanionis in Dominant Unification Victory
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Apr 2025
American star Jaron "Boots" Ennis has cemented his place at the top of the welterweight division, securing a dominant sixth-round TKO victory over erstwhile Eimantas Stanionis of Lithuania to unify the IBF, WBA, and Ring Magazine Welterweight titles Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Stanionis, who absorbed punishing blows throughout the fight, refused to answer the bell for the seventh round, handing Ennis the emphatic win.
From the opening bell, Ennis showcased his superior speed, power, and ring generalship. The Philadelphia native controlled the distance effectively, landing stinging jabs and powerful combinations that consistently troubled the previously undefeated Stanionis. Each round saw Ennis dictating the pace and steadily breaking down his Lithuanian opponent highlighted by a bloody nose sustained by Stanionis as the rounds progressed.
The fifth round proved to be a turning point. After weathering a barrage of relentless combinations from Ennis, Stanionis was forced to take a knee. While he beat the count, the knockdown served as a clear indication of Ennis's dominance and the punishment Stanionis was absorbing.
Despite his toughness and resilience, Stanionis continued to be outboxed and outgunned in the sixth round. Ennis continued to land heavy shots, and by the end of the round, Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, seeing his fighter absorbing too much punishment, made the decision to stop the fight. Stanionis remained on his stool as the bell rang for the seventh round, confirming Ennis's victory by TKO.
In his post-fight interview, an elated Ennis stated, "I felt great in there. My jab was working, my combinations were landing. I knew it was just a matter of time. Stanionis is a tough fighter, but I was just too strong and too skilled tonight." He thanked his team and the fans for their support and reiterated his ambition to become the undisputed welterweight champion.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Jaron Ennis's career, establishing him as a unified world champion in one of boxing's most competitive divisions. His dominant performance against a previously undefeated and highly regarded opponent sends a clear message to the rest of the welterweight contenders.
The undercard preceding the main event also delivered its share of excitement. Raymond Ford successfully defended his WBA Continental North America Super Featherweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Thomas Mattice. Shakhram Giyasov overcame personal adversity to secure an emotional fourth-round knockout victory against Franco Ocampo, while Omari Jones impressed with a first-round knockout. Earlier in the evening, Francisco Rodriguez, Arturo Cardenas, Tahmir Smalls, and Zaquin Moses all secured victories in their respective bouts. However, the night belonged to Jaron "Boots" Ennis, who delivered a statement-making performance to claim unified welterweight glory in Atlantic City.
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