The stakes are raised for Jaron "Boots" Ennis' foray into the 154lbs division, even if the matchup itself leaves a lot to be desired.
An interim version of the WBA junior middleweight title will be on the line for Ennis' clash with Angola's Uisma Lima, this Saturday from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Ennis' hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The scheduled 12-round contest was previously designated as a final eliminator for the main version of the WBA title held by Germany's Abass Baraou. However, the matchup received an upgrade which should help speed up the process for Ennis to eventually challenge for his second divisional title.
Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), previously served as the lineal and unified WBA/IBF welterweight champion. He held the IBF title since November 2023 and made three successful defenses. The final act of the reign marked his finest hour as a pro, as Ennis manhandled then-unbeaten WBA beltholder Eimantas Stanionis to the tune of a 6th round stoppage in their April 12 unification bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
It was widely speculated prior to the contest that Ennis would move up in weight, given the absence of the opportunity to further unify at 147lbs. The career decision led to his team carving out the quickest path to become a two-division champ.
The first stop will come against the unheralded Lima, 14-1 (10 KOs), who fights in the U.S. for the first time. The well-traveled 32-year-old southpaw - originally from Angola but who now lives in Portugal - has fought in Spain, Portugal, the U.K.. Germany, Canada and - most recently - South Africa.
However, his relative anonymity coupled with the lopsided odds have left many observers and critics sour on this weekend's DAZN headliner.
Ennis is a whopping -3000 favorite to prevail, according to bet365 sportsbook. The path to become a mandatory challenger seems like overkill for a fighter of his stature, particularly considering that it will lead to the least notable option in an otherwise talent-rich 154lbs division.
Sebastian Fundora is the reigning WBC titlist, who next defends against Keith Thurman later this month. Vergil Ortiz Jnr is the WBC interim titlist and will face Erickson Lubin on November 8 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Recently crowned WBO 154lbs title claimant Xander Zayas is presently without an opponent but is seeking a Puerto Rico homecoming for the first quarter of 2026. Ironically, Baraou's name surfaced as a targeted option.
IBF beltholder Bakhram Muratazaliev was previously ordered to next face de facto mandatory challenger Josh Kelly. The two sides previously requested an extension before a purse bid hearing was called, with the belief that a deal will soon be reached. However, that moment has yet to come nor have any involved parties provided a status update.
Baraou, 17-1 (9 KOs) was recently upgraded to full titlist from his previous interim status. The move came once the opening bell sounded for Terence "Bud" Crawford's eventual 12-round, unanimous decision victory over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs) to claim the undisputed 168lbs championship.
Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs) was permitted to enter the ring as the WBA junior middleweight titlist, having won the belt in a 12-round decision over Israil Madrimov last August 3 in Los Angeles, California. He was permitted to keep the belt just long enough to be announced as the reigning titleholder
