Former unified welterweight champion Jaron Ennis is gearing up to make his first appearance in a new weight division.
The 28-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is set to face Portugal’s Uisma Lima in a WBA super-welterweight final eliminator on Saturday October 11 at the Wells Fargo Center in his hometown.
‘Boots’ had previously held the WBA and IBF welterweight titles, becoming unified champion back in April of this year when he defeated Lithuania’s Eimantas Stanionis via sixth round stoppage at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to capture the WBA crown at 147lbs.
Ennis vacated his titles earlier this month, paving the way for him to make the move up to 154lbs as he sets his sights on becoming a two-weight world champion in the near future.
One fighter that ‘Boots’ looks set to cross paths with at some stage within the next 12 months is fellow countryman Vergil Ortiz, who currently holds the WBC interim super-welterweight title.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that there are plans in place to make a bout between ‘Boots’ and Ortiz during the early stages of 2026.
“We targeted February. We targeted Las Vegas. And that’s what we expect and hope to happen. I know that’s what DAZN are expecting to happen.”
Ortiz made his most recent ring appearance back in February, defeating Uzbekistan’s former WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov via unanimous decision to make the maiden defence of his WBC interim world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He next puts his belt and top position on the line against Erickson Lubin on November 8.
If ‘Boots’ comes through his upcoming showdown with Lima unscathed, and Ortiz does the same, all roads seem to lead to one of the most intriguing clashes the division can offer with two undefeated records on the line.
