Charles Conwell on the sparring sessions that laid the groundwork for a future fight with ‘Boots’ Ennis

Junior middleweight Charles Conwell transitioned from being a 2016 U.S. Olympian to a top-notch contender, in part by sparring Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Now, Conwell and Ennis might end up being a mega-fight in the coming years.

Conwell stopped Gerardo Luis Vergara in the seventh round in his third and final appearance of 2024 on December 14 at Toyota Arena, Ontario, California. 

Conwell, 27, is from Cleveland, Ohio, but trains in Toledo, Ohio. At a young age, he relocated for boxing to train with Otha Jones II at Soul City Boxing Gym. After winning the Olympic trials, Conwell and his team built a bond with the Ennis team. They fought in separate weight classes, both making the finals in Reno, Nevada, in December 2015. Conwell adapted a hands held high style. Conwell’s father, Chuck Conwell is a brick mason who loved boxing and insisted Conwell hold his hands up high.

“He would just run through people,” Jones II said. “One day we were talking and I explained we had to graduate from just that hands high style when we step up in class.”

Jones II wanted to see Conwell evolve after the 2016 Olympics. Conwell felt a challenge coming, prompted by his coach who set up sparring bouts to test him.

“I had to change his defense,” Jones II said. “He thought he was sweet.”

That sets the stage for Jones talking to Ennis’ father, Derek “Bozy” Ennis. The two camps had become cordial after the Olympics Trials. The two trainers talked and Jones drove Conwell to Philadelphia to spar with Ennis. 

“I told Charles that I was going to put somebody in the ring with him that was going to show him something with that dumb ass defense,” Jones II said.

Those first sessions were tough. Ennis was described as the Matrix. He was elusive and tricky. He would exploit Conwell’s flaws, one of which was walking forward with ear muff defense. Despite some of the days being rough, Conwell kept showing up and the team made the 18-hour round-trip drive multiple times. 

“We kept adjusting,” Jones II said. “We were able to adjust when everybody else couldn’t adjust.”

“Sparring elite fighters only makes you better,” Conwell said. “You learn from each other. You can see what your mistakes are because they’re going to bring the best out of you. They’re going to exploit the mistakes that you make. You exploit mistakes that they make. I definitely think I’ve gotten better.”

“We were going to learn,” Jones II said. “And like his [Ennis’] father said, every time we fought, we both got better.”
The two teams are no longer sparring with each other. Ennis is a welterweight titleholder. Conwell is awaiting his first title shot. One day, the two might meet as Conwell is only one weight class above Ennis.

Though it won’t come soon, a showdown between the two could materialize, to finish a story that started in 2015.  

“I think he’s a real good fighter, I think that’d be another good classic fight,” Conwell said. “I think he says he’s focused on 147, his own division, but eventually, when he moves up, I should be here. He’s a big name, and I’ll be a big name at that point. It should be a megafight. I can’t wait for it to happen.”