This Saturday was supposed to be the confirmation of the two biggest, hungriest contenders to the welterweight throne and to the winner of the upcoming Errol Spence-Terence Crawford 147 lb. unification clash. 20-something killers Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr., long considered to be “next big things” in the division, were to be in action in high-profile main events and the implication was clear– they would be coming for Spence and/or Crawford next.
Instead, Ennis will have the spotlight solely on him.
Ortiz was forced to pull out of his bout with Eimantas Stanionis in San Antonio due to health issues related to his ongoing battle with rhabdomyolysis. The 25-year-old reportedly passed out on Wednesday and was rushed to the hospital, with his Saturday bout officially canceled on Thursday.
While the 26-year-old Ennis expressed concern for Ortiz at Thursday’s press conference to hype Saturday’s showdown with the hard-hitting Roiman Villa, it’s definitely good news for him that he’ll be the only young welterweight showcased over the weekend.
“I’m ready and excited to get in there. I can’t wait,” Ennis told members of the media. “He comes forward and that’s what I like. I’m gonna show him my skills and everything I can do. We’re gonna show him why I’m one of the best fighters in the world.
“We’re going to have fun and do what I always do. We’ll be smart and let him come to us. I can’t go looking for the knockout, that’s when you don’t get it. We’re gonna put on a beautiful show for the fans and give them some fireworks.”
As for the post-Villa future, Ennis says that he’s ready for everything that’s coming, but, right now, he only has eyes on the task at hand.
“A victory over Villa keeps me going toward my goal. A lot of people say that he’s a power-puncher, but we’ll see on Saturday night. I’m coming to make a big statement and get a stoppage.
“I’m ready for anybody. But right now, we have business to take care of. I’m focused on Roiman Villa and then we’ll worry about what’s next.
“Villa is gonna be right there in front of me not moving his head. He’s a good fighter, but he’s throwing wild hooks. He’s gonna have a long night.”
Ennis’ reputation took a bit of a hit in his last fight when he went the distance with mobile, awkward Karen Chukhadzhian. But he insists that performance was merely part of a bigger plan.
“Going the distance in my last fight didn’t put any pressure on me leading up to this one. Everyone fell for the trap. I wanted guys to want to fight me. I had been scaring everyone off.
“It’s the ‘Boots’ Ennis show now. I’m gonna go out there and have fun. I’m gonna set up the knockout and be sharp and box beautifully.”
Not surprisingly, in a face-to-face with one media outlet rather than the press as a group, Ennis was a lot more lively and direct with his message.
“I just wanna look great,” Ennis told Boxingscene. “And I feel like beatin’ somebody up, you know, and beatin’ him bad and makin’ they team throw in the towel or stoppin’ the fight, I feel like that’s kinda like better than a knockout sometimes. But whatever comes first – whether it’s a knockout or whether it’s me stoppin’ him with an accumulation of punches or the ref stoppin’ it, or his team throwin’ in the towel, the commission throwin’ in the towel, anything, I wanna look good and put on a legendary performance. That’s my goal for Saturday night.”
And now the welterweight stage will be all his.
