Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis Predictions: Double belts for ‘Boots’?

IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis walks into a unification bout with WBA counterpart Eimantas Stanionis this Saturday, April 12. The iconic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City will host the fight with DAZN screening the card live.

Here are my Ennis vs Stanionis predictions ahead of this dual-title battle.

Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis Odds

Boots is 2/11 to go home with double-gold. Stanionis can walk out as the unified champ at 4/1 while a draw, in which both men would leave with one title apiece, is 16/1.

Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis Fight Preview

‘Boots’ steps up here in the biggest test of his career so far. After an amateur career laden with Golden Gloves medals, Ennis took to the pros like a duck to water. 

The rising star took out the gatekeepers, good men like Mike Arnaoutis, Chris van Heerden, Sergey Lipinets and Thomas Dulorme who had been to the top of the mountain in their youth. A dominant points win over double-tough Ukrainian Karen Chukhadzhian gave him the IBF interim title.

This was later upgraded to the full whack when undisputed champion Terence Crawford left the division behind. Ennis has knocked out Roiman Villa and former Crawford foe David Avanesyan as champion, as well as outpointing Chukhadzhian in a rather unnecessary rematch.

Fans loved watching ‘Boots’ on the come-up, taking out yesterday’s men. But the consensus is that more is expected from him now. Ennis’ championship reign has simmered rather than boiled. But Stanionis is the sort of opponent that can turn up the heat.

A European champion amateur, Stanionis started his career blowing everyone away. But as his level of competition has improved, the 30-year-old has found himself going the distance frequently. 

Dulorme, the former world title challenger who Ennis whooped in one round, lasted the full 12 with Stanionis. The Ukrainian’s two world title fights have each gone the distance, too. Stanionis took a split decision against Radzhab Butaev to win the WBA crown.

Stanionis’ first defence was a victory over touted double-Olympian Gabriel Maestre, one of the great modern amateurs. Now he puts the belt up against the man tasked with saving the welterweight division.

During the 2000s and 2010s, this was the division to be in. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao led the way. But the supporting cast was incredible. Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams and Andre Berto are just a sampling of the talent that was around during the period.

Back then, the heavyweight division was in a fallow period. The boxing landscape was ripe for another weight-class to take centre stage. But nowadays, the big men are booming while strong support comes from the buzzing lightweight, super lightweight and light heavyweight divisions to name but three.

‘Boots’ is the most promising among the current crop. He is marketable, popular and exciting. But Stanionis could upset the apple-cart. The winner of this will have two titles and a chance to lead the 147lb division back to supremacy. Fights with WBO boss Brian Norman Jr. and WBC counterpart Mario Barrios beckon to tie up the loose ends.

But first, each man must tangle to take the other’s belt. This should be a fascinating contest. Each man is at an early stage in their championship journey. These are the sort of fights that define title reigns. Who will grasp the opportunity to forge their own destiny?

Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis Full Card

Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis

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Jaron Ennis vs Eimantas Stanionis Prediction

Ennis is your classic counter-puncher, measuring his opposition on the back foot before advancing when he smells blood. Stanionis is a come-forward pressure fighter, rarely taking his foot off the accelerator.

Styles make fights and this combination is a tale as old as the ring and the ropes. But I can see Ennis’ slickness proving superior to Stanionis’ relentlessness. ‘Boots’ is an adept mover and will show his opponent angles, firing punches that disrupt his rhythm.

I think Ennis can ride this to a decision victory. Stanionis is tough and I don’t think he’ll shift. But the Ukrainian can be outboxed. I’m picking Ennis on points at 11/10.

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