Jaron Ennis is one of boxing’s brightest rising stars, and his avoided nature leaves him no doubt he is on a pound-for-pound trajectory.
Ennis has had 32 professional fights which have all ended in victory, and he is developing a fearsome reputation as one of the sport’s brightest rising talents.
Ennis is one of the sport’s hottest prospects right now[/caption]
The American star has already become a world champion holding the IBF title at 147lbs, but is looking for some fights against huge names to elevate his profile and reach the top of the sport.
‘Boots’ will first face a rematch against a familiar foe in Karen Chukhadzian, who he outpointed by unanimous decision in 2023.
It is the latest step in his career, which is now to be guided by Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing, a promotional label who have built global superstars including Anthony Joshua.
Ennis is looking to become just that, but has yet to have a breakthrough fight and believes he needs exactly that to reign at the higher end of the pound-for-pound rankings.
“Maybe like one or two fights,” he told Uncrowned. “I’m right there. I just need that one name, that’s all.
“My main objective is to get these belts. I was trying — I was pushing hard to collect these belts and be undisputed, at least unify.
“That was my goal. Those things fell out, and I had to fight my mandatory.
” It is what it is, I don’t really care. I’m ready to go in there and put on a show, have fun, and look better this time. Just do my thing.”
It has been a frustrating time for Ennis, who’s rise sadly came just after some of the division’s biggest names moved up in weight.
Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr both fought for the undisputed titles in an incredible clash in 2023, in which ‘Bud’ reigned supreme.
‘Bud’ decided to vacate the belts and move up to 154lbs, where his conquered rival is also now planning to make the switch.
Ennis is currently focused on becoming undisputed at 147lbs, but there are currently a new series of champions in town including Eimantas Stanionis, Brian Norman Jr and Mario Barrios.
These aren’t the big names Ennis has pushed for, which originally included Crawford for whom he was mandatory to face in 2023.
The American has also expressed desire to his rival Spence, and former world champions who have since retired, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter.
But the 27-year-old has revealed he has kept missing out, a trait which he hopes doesn’t continue throughout his career.
He told Forbes: “He [Crawford] wasn’t the only guy that I was trying to fight.
I was trying to fight him. I was trying to fight Errol Spence, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter at one point.
“I was trying to fight all of those guys at the top. That was my goal. That’s how I was going to make my mark.
“But, it went a different way. It was out of my hands, so it is what it is. I’m going to be great regardless.”
The likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have long gone from the division, leaving a vacancy which Ennis is hoping to fill.
It has been a frustrating spell despite his sensational winning streak, which reflects that of a pound-for-pound top contender.
A fight with Crawford was his central objective, but the undefeated star who is in the twilight stages of his career, may only now be enticed back into the ring by a mega-fight against Canelo Alvarez.
And the pound-for-pound current ranked star has explained why he isn’t currently interested in pursuing Ennis.
“Where I’m at right now, I’m looking at the fight that makes the most sense and that’s not Boots,” Crawford said.
“Canelo’s gonna bring way more to my legacy and way more to my bank account.
“Because at the end of the day when boxing is done, what will we have?
“I would have a legacy that’s something people talk about for ages.
“And I would have a bank account that would last for ages as well.”
