Jaron Ennis Debuts at 154 with a Lightning-Quick Rout of Uisma Lima

Super welterweights are easy, proved Jaron Ennis on Saturday.

Welterweights are more difficult.

Brand new super welterweight Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) blasted out super welterweight contender Uisma Lima (14-2,10 KOs) to claim an interim title at 154 pounds with a first-round destruction that left Ennis’s hometown Philadelphia crowd in awe.

“I did what I had to do. Did a statement,” said Ennis.

The last time that the former welterweight champion Ennis was able to knock out a welterweight in the first round was four years ago when he starched Thomas Dulorme in Las Vegas in October 2021. Six welterweights were able to survive past the first round.

After battling weight problems for years, Ennis finally moved up in weight and displayed even greater power and zest in annihilating Portugal’s dangerous southpaw fighter Lima. The added pounds seemed to greatly enhance the fighter known as “Boots.”

“The more I go on. the stronger I’m going to get,” said Ennis about fighting at 154 pounds instead of 147 pounds. “I was that small for a long time.”

Though Lima had fought at super welterweight all of his pro career and even against middleweights and super middleweights, he had never suffered a knockout loss or been knocked down. That all ended on Saturday.

After connecting with a left cross, Lima soon was the target of immediate and deadly counters from Ennis, who countered with a blistering right hook, left hands and rights. Lima was hammered to the floor but beat the count. After the fight resumed, Ennis jumped on him and clobbered Lima with a right cross. Down went Lima again but he got up. Then Ennis resumed on full attack mode and the referee stepped in between the fighters while Lima’s corner waved a white towel.

“I knew he was hurt. I could see how he fell over,” explained Ennis about the knockdowns. “I think he was trying to fight smart and not get caught early.”

Ennis had blasted out Lima at 1:58 of the first round.

Awaiting Ennis are numerous super welterweights with world titles and high rankings. But one super welterweight in particular has his eye and that is Texan Vergil Ortiz Jr. who fights Erickson Lubin on Nov. 8 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“It’s going to happen next. If he don’t win, I’ll fight whoever wins next. I heard Charlo was calling me out,” said Ennis. “Xander (Zayas) can get it.”

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn who promotes Ennis said a contract is already waiting with the Philadelphia fighter’s signature.

“I’m telling to you, know this is the future of boxing. There is nobody that can beat him. This guy is another level. Anyone, he will destroy them,” said Hearn.

Other Bouts

Italy’s Guido Vianello (14-3-1, 12 KOs) stormed to a knockout win over Canada’s Alexis Barriere (12-1, 10 KOs) in a heavyweight fight that excited fans in Philadelphia.

Vianello, coming off a loss this past April to fellow Olympian Richard Torrez Jr., was looking to prove he was better than his record. He wasted no time in searching for a big win.

Though southpaw Barriere walked into the boxing ring undefeated, he seemed surprised by the aggression shown immediately by the Italian heavyweight. He fired sharp counters, but nothing seemed to deter Vianello’s advances.

Vianello opened up the fourth round with increased pressure and unleashed big bombs. A right cross connected followed by a dozen unanswered blows and down went Barriere. He beat the count but looked dazed. In the fifth round Vianello attacked and connected with a right and down went Barriere again. The referee stopped the fight at 26 seconds into the fifth round.

“I want Anthony Joshua,” said Vianello. “Give me a big name.”

Philadelphia’s Tahmir Smalls (16-0, 11 KOs) knocked down Jose Roman (14-2) early but was forced to hang on against the taller Puerto Rican to win by decision after 10 rounds.

Smalls connected with a right cross followed by a left and down went Roman who was forced to hold on for the remainder of the round. The remainder of the fight saw Roman use technique and smart punching to close the distance in the scoring. But the knockdown proved the difference in scoring as Smalls won by decision 95-94, 96-93 and a ridiculous 98-91.

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