Jaron “Boots” Ennis will put his IBF welterweight title on the line on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, when he also tries to stake claim to Eimantas Stanionis’ WBA title and the Ring Magazine crown.
Also on the card, Raymond Ford returns to take on Thomas Mattice, and former U.S. Olympian Omari Jones will have his second pro bout—a clash with William Jackson on the undercard.
Here’s how you can watch the event:
- Date: April 12
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV/Stream: DAZN
I had an opportunity to speak to both men ahead of their unification fight, and this battle is one that has seemingly been on the champions’ radars for a while.
“I was trying to fight him a long time ago back when I was with, you know, on the other side,” Ennis told me in an exclusive interview. “We’re here now. So you know—but he a good fighter. You know, puts pressure, tries to throw a lot of punches, tries to jab. Not really too too much to it. A good fighter though.”
Ennis has put together a stellar career thus far. At 27, Ennis is 33-0 with 27 KOs. He’s earned a legitimate world title and is hungry for even more. That’s where Stanionis comes in.
The 30-year-old Lithuanian is also undefeated. At 15-0 with 9 KOs, Stanionis doesn’t have as much professional experience, but he has paid his dues as an amateur and is looking to validate his claim to the WBA strap.
“I know he’s a big star in the U.S., and I’ve always been the underdog here,” Stanionis said in our interview when I asked him how he felt about being seen as the lesser name in the main event. “I knew if I lose, I’d have to go back to my country. That’s what drives me.”
According to Stanionis, he was offered a fight with Ennis twice in 2020 during the pandemic. He told me he said yes both times, but the fight didn’t materialize.
Ennis’ last fight wasn’t his most impressive performance. He won a unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian in November 2024, but the victory left critics—and even some supporters—wanting more from Boots.
“I’ma say this: I trained and sparred the same way I fought—wasn’t how I was supposed to be,” Ennis admitted. “So that’s advice to young fighters: how you train is how you fight.”
He promises to be more prepared and ready to put on a show, unify, and earn the coveted Ring Magazine title.
“One fight at a time,” Ennis added. “As long as I be myself—and like I said, I finally got what I wanted: unifications and the Ring Magazine title. That’s motivation right there. Not too many people can say they held that belt. Floyd [Mayweather] was the last one.”
The Ennis-Stanionis Undercard
While most will be waiting on the main event, fight fans should pay attention to the progress Jones makes in each fight. Saturday’s clash with Jackson will only be the Orlando native’s second pro fight, but it’ll be interesting to see how much he’s grown since the first fight.
“I’m moving on to my second pro fight, and I’m ready to put on another great performance here in Atlantic City against another big crowd,” Jones said during Thursday’s press conference. “So, I’m ready for these moments.”
I’ll especially have my eyes on Ford’s fight with Mattice. Ford has become one of the easiest fighters in the sport to get behind. He’s young, tough, and refreshingly real when you speak to him.
The 26-year-old bounced back from his first pro loss against Nick Ball in June 2024 with a unanimous decision win over Orlando Gonzalez on the Boots-Chukhadzhian undercard in November.
He’s back to push closer to another opportunity. Be on the lookout for more pre- and post-fight coverage.
