IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) squares off against WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) on Saturday April 12 in Atlantic City. The Philadelphia, PA-bred Ennis plans to finish his opponent and unify the two belts, in the quest to become the sport’s next undisputed welterweight champion.
But Stanionis will showing up to the historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall — “all gas, no brakes” — seeking to give Ennis his first defeat, and right in front of Boots’ family and friends.
So Ennis took some time to speak with CASSIUS about his preparation for his title fight against the Lithuanian champ, his own hometown charity work, and the best place to get a Philly cheeseteak.
CASSIUS: How do you feel about Saturday? Stanionis has said [the game] is “building a superstar, but I am going to f-ck up all their plans… no one is unbeatable.”
Ennis: I’m super ready. I’m more than ready. He ain’t messing up no plans over here. I’m going to do what I’m going to do. And I will be victorious Saturday. Training camp is going great. Working smarter and doing a lot of things different. Just being me, having my fun. I’m ready to put on a beautiful show. Show the world I’m the best.
CASSIUS: You’re going to be fighting near the hometown crowd. And you’ve got your people people coming out to support you, too, right?
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: Yeah. Atlantic City’s not too far away. Philly is only like 45 minutes from AC. So it’s going to be like fighting at home. Atlantic City is like a home away from home. I had a lot of historic nights, legendary nights in AC. So we’re going to keep that ball rolling.
CASSIUS: I don’t want to jump too far ahead, but what do you have in store past Saturday?
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: I’m not going to lie, I ain’t looking. I’m not looking far past it. My only goal is Stanionis. Once I have victory on Saturday, we’ll handle it then. But once I collect this belt and prove I’m the best in the world, we’ll figure out from there. But right now, my main focus is him. I ain’t really worrying about nobody else outside of him right now. We’re locked in on him.
CASSIUS: Well, what do you make of the current state of the boxing game, then? Some people feel that it’s the best it’s ever been when it comes to talent and young up-and-coming fighters. Others are saying it’s gotten watered down, and it’s just guys ducking fights. I know it’s taken some time to get you and Stanionis together in the ring.
Ennis: I feel like the state of boxing is good right now. For me, I’m number one, and he’s number two.
CASSIUS: You also talk a lot about your love of Philadelphia. Growing up there, it’s a huge boxing town, a lot of history. And you’re also involved in a lot of charity work in Philly. Last October, you were also named Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence’s Fashion Touchdown Honoree. Tell us about that.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: Yeah, I do a lot. Not even only where I’m from, but just in general, I try to get back to the kids. I know it’s a lot of hidden talents. I know it’s a lot of hidden things like that coming up in the hood and in the community. So I try to do my best to try to give back to the kids and show them how to box, even if they don’t even want to box, just give them words of knowledge.
Whatever they want to do, they could do it. Don’t let nobody think that you can’t do it. You got to put your hard work and dedication in whatever it is, whether it’s football, basketball, boxing, whether you want to play tennis, just whatever you got your mindset, do it. It felt great to be able to get that award. Like I said, I love spreading the love to the kids, and giving back, and showing them that I’m an example of hard working dedication.
CASSIUS: Who were some of the guys you looked up to growing up? Some of the guys you modeled your game after?
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: For a while, I modeled my game after my dad Derek “Bozy” Ennis and both my brothers. But outside of them, I watch Roy Jones. I watch Floyd Mayweather, Pernell Whitaker, James Toney. I watched the guys like that, too.
CASSIUS: What was your reaction to the passing of George Foreman? I know he was an icon both in the ring and outside of the ring.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: It’s crazy that he passed away. Condolences to his family. He was a legend, Big George. He had that knockout power. Everybody loved to see him fight. I think he had the best one, two combos in the game, for real.
CASSIUS: One last question for you, champ. What’s the best place to get a Philly cheese steak down there? I heard Donkey’s in Camden, New Jersey isn’t too bad.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: I ain’t going to lie. People always go to the normal spots, like Max’s and D’Alessandro’s and all that. But I typically send everybody to my fighter Ishmael Muhammad restaurant. He got a restaurant called Essie’s. He’s my fighter under my banner, Boots Promotions. He’s 7-0 — we call him the Chef, and he got his own store. It’s uptown in Philadelphia. Chicken cheese steak , it’s a better version of a cheese steak. So you tell everybody to come to Essie’s.
CASSIUS: Will do. Any final word you want to leave the fans with for next Saturday?
Jaron “Boots” Ennis: Make sure you all tune in! Do not miss me becoming unified middleweight champion of the world. Don’t get up. Keep your eyes open. Don’t blink. And stay tuned!