The stage is set, at last, for Jaron Ennis to ‘put on a show’

The stage is set. All that’s left is for Jaron “Boots” Ennis to do what Jaron “Boots” Ennis does.

This Saturday, the undefeated Ennis – the man many believe to be boxing’s next pound-for-pound great – will return to his native Philadelphia to make the first defense of his welterweight world title against veteran David Avanesyan. A crowd of over 10,000 is expected at the Wells Fargo Center, a sign of Ennis’ growing star power. 

“I can’t wait,” said Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) during Thursday’s final press conference. “It’s a blessing to be able to fight here, and I’m ready to put on a show and look good doing it. Beat him up, break him down, get the stoppage and have my fun.

“I feel that I am going to thrive here and put on a beautiful show. I’m fighting at home, I’m comfortable, I’m on the couch with my feet up, so it’s going to be a great show.”

Yet as has been the case for most of Ennis’ career, fans are already looking toward what’s next for him. Now 27, Ennis has yet to face a top welterweight. Thus far, he has toyed with his opposition, barely losing seconds, let alone rounds, on his way to establishing himself as perhaps the most fearsome blend of speed and power since one Roy Jones Jr. set the boxing world ablaze.

That skill set, coupled with his massive 5-foot-10 frame and power in both fists, are part of the reason why matchups versus Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. – this era’s top welterweights – failed to materialize at 147 pounds.

Having joined forces with promoter Matchroom Boxing earlier this year, Ennis hopes this new alliance will, at the very least, spur unification matches with some combination of titleholders Mario Barrios, Eimantas Stanionis and Brian Norman Jr., which can help establish him as the new king at 147.

For now, Ennis will settle for Avanesyan (30-4-1, 18 KOs), a 35-year-old journeyman who was brought in when his original opponent, unbeaten top contender Cody Crowley, withdrew due to eye issues. In December 2022, Avanesyan was stopped in six one-sided rounds by the aforementioned Crawford, a feat Ennis will no doubt look to duplicate or better.

“The opponent switch doesn’t really mean anything to me, we have southpaws and orthodox in camp, pressure fighters, boxers – we do everything,” Ennis said. “We’re standing on business. I’m not going to go in there looking for the stoppage, but I’m going to have my fun, put on a show. But I’ll let the knockout come to me.

Derrick “Bozy” Ennis, Boots’ father and trainer, echoed those sentiments: “We want him to come forward. Remember this, we fight inside and outside. Whatever [Avanesyan] wants to do, we can do. If he wants to box around and move around, if he wants to fight, we can fight, simple as that. He’ll do what he always does, come straight at you. He’s a good fighter, I can’t take anything away from him. We’d rather fight him than Cody Crowley, because his resume is much stronger.

“It’s not going to go past four rounds. It might hit five, you never know. It all depends on how Boots feels, because we have fun when we box. That’s what we do.”

That style has endeared Ennis to fight fans, no matter his opponent. Even so, hardcore fans would rather see him further tested before preparing Ennis’ bust for Canastota. More than anyone, Ennis wants the opportunity to prove himself. Come Saturday night, he plans to end his 13-month layoff by serving notice to the rest of the division that his reign begins now.

“It’s going to be turned up in here. Fireworks,” Ennis said. “It’s going to be lit up, and I’m excited. You are going to see a beautiful show, and I’m going to show the world and the 147-pound division that I am the best.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” back in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].