Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis could be on the verge of becoming one of modern boxing’s biggest stars.
The current IBF World Welterweight champion Ennis currently boasts an impressive 33-0 record, with 29 knockouts to his name.
On April 12th, 2025, Ennis will aim to add another belt to his collection. Taking on Eimantas Stanionis, the two will compete in a welterweight unification bout, with the Lithuanian’s WBA title on the line.
A win for Ennis would also mean he would retain his IBF title for the third time, after making his first defense in 2024.
However, had Ennis’ first world title opportunity gone differently, he would have been a champion for longer.
Jaron Ennis’ IBO world title opportunity ended in a no-contest
After winning all 26 of his professional fights by the age of 23, ‘Boots’ was given the chance to compete for the IBO World Welterweight Championship.
The belt was vacant and he was paired up with Chris van Heerden for the bout. Van Heerden hails from South Africa and went into the bout with a 28-2-1 record.
Competing in December 2020, there were no fans in attendance in Connecticut for the bout due to Covid-19 regulations. However, had there been fans, they likely would have gone home disappointed.
In the last 30 seconds of the very first round, Ennis and van Heerden clashed heads, which resulted in both men immediately appearing in pain.
The bout was halted in the final seconds of the round, as the referee intervened. Although Ennis was seemingly okay to continue moments after the collision, the South African was not.
The accidental clash had resulted in a huge cut on the forehead of van Heerden. As blood rained from the fighter, the bout was called off in an anti-climatic ending.
The bout was officially declared a no-contest after one round.
Jaron Ennis won an interim world title in 2023
Despite competing for the IBO World Welterweight title against van Heerden, Ennis would have to wait just over two years to get another title opportunity.
In January 2023, he would be paired up with Karen Chukhadzhian (21-1) from Ukraine. The two fought for the vacant IBF Interim World Welterweight title.
Winning every round on the judge’s scorecards in Washington, ‘Boots’ would pick up the title. He would then go on to defend the title six months later against Roiman Villa.
As Terence Crawford vacated the full title, Ennis’ interim status was upgraded. This meant that in his 2024 clash with David Avanesyan, he was considered a defending champion of the IBF World Welterweight title.
In his first title defense, Ennis defeated his opponent via retirement after five rounds.