When the rest of us meet up with a friend in a resort town to throw back a few rounds and put on a few pounds, it tends to be a vastly different experience than it was for Jaron Ennis.
Ennis, a 34-0 (30 KOs) former unified welterweight titleholder from Philadelphia, recently made his way back home from a visit to Lake Tahoe, California, where he trained and put in sparring rounds with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to sweat, sharpen up and settle into his new professional adventure at junior middleweight.
The first leg begins against the untested Uisma Lima, 14-1 (10 KOs), on October 11 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
“I’m ready to make a big statement in the 154 division,” Ennis said on a recent episode of Matchroom’s “Flash Knockdown” podcast. “With the extra seven pounds, I’m feeling great. Every time, I want to put on a better performance.”
Ennis should have a prime opportunity against Lima, a 32-year-old Angola-born resident of Porto, Portugal, whose only experience against a world-class opponent – against Ireland’s Aaron McKenna in a 10-rounder in 2023 – ended in defeat.
“What I’ve seen with Lima, he comes forward and throws a lot of punches,” Ennis said. “Whatever he brings, I’ll be ready. My mindset that I’ve picked up is that every fight needs to be locked in. I’m treating him like a big name.”
Meanwhile, Ennis’ Lake Tahoe engagement with one of the biggest names in the sport was fruitful – but one he considered to be all business.
“It was great being around Canelo,” Ennis said. “He’s a cool guy, but it was for me to get out of Philly and get my mind right and on point to continue camp.”
That seems to be the methodology of late for Ennis, who at 28, arguably has yet to hit his prime yet has already begun building a post-fighting future as a promoter. Two of his fighters – welterweight Tahmir Smalls, 15-0 (11 KOs), and junior featherweight Dennis Thompson (7-0 5 KOs), both based in Philadelphia – will join the card he is scheduled to headline.
“Tahmir Smalls has been with me since he was little,” Ennis said of the 26-year-old Smalls, who will be fighting for a minor title. “It’s his first belt – I’m proud of him. I’m using my platform to give these guys the opportunity.
“Dennis Thompson is young, hungry. He’s getting better with each and every fight. He keeps showing that no one can mess with him. It’s his first undefeated opponent.”
Xfinity Mobile Arena may not be The Spectrum or The Blue Horizon, but maybe “Boots” is in the process of building a new Philadelphia boxing legacy.
“It’s everything fighting at home in Philly,” Ennis said. “It’s a different type of pressure for other fighters to come and fight me there.”
Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.
