Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis talks family influence and promises to be boxing’s next pound-for-pound fighter

Jaron “Boots” Ennis was sitting with his arms crossed on a table, looking at his latest opponent, Uisma Lima, and telling him that their boxing match would be short and sweet.

“It comes and goes like a robbery,” Ennis, 28, said with a smile.

Confidence is a necessity in boxing. A fighter must believe that he will defeat his opponent no matter the odds. But Ennis, a Philadelphia native, seemed very sure of himself at the time.

Of course, he was a heavy favorite, but this was his first fight in the 154-pound junior middleweight division.

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However, he backed up every word, knocking Lima down twice before a first-round stoppage to receive the interim WBA junior middleweight belt on October 11 in his hometown. When you’re an undefeated boxer who has knocked out all but four of his opponents as a professional (35-0), it’s hard not to be overconfident.

But for Ennis, the tarp, ropes and gloves feel like home. It’s a comfort because, after all, it’s the family business.

“I guess just being in boxing for so long and seeing my brothers come up, I knew what to expect,” Ennis told News Digital during a recent interview in New York City. “I knew what was going on. So I feel comfortable no matter where I am, whether it’s in the ring or doing interviews. Wherever, I always feel comfortable. I see everything. I’ve been here before.”

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In Philadelphia, the last name Ennis sounds familiar in the boxing community. It begins with Derek “Bozy” Ennis, father and trainer of “Boots,” who was naturally tougher on his son than the rest of his clients.

“It’s expected because he knows what I can do,” said “Botas” about his father’s training. “I have to follow through, so that’s what I do. I don’t take my father’s criticism very seriously. It’s actually motivation to keep going.”

“Boots” added that he prefers tough love, saying, “I don’t want men who say yes around me.” You want to know what you are doing right or wrong.

But his brothers also laid the foundations for it. Derek “Pooh” Ennis and Farah “The Quiet Storm” Ennis were also professional wrestlers with high expectations, although they never competed for a world title like their little brother.

“They’re very supportive of each other. They just paved the way,” “Boots” said of his brothers’ influence. “They showed me what to do and what not to do, and I just followed their instructions and always stayed in some kind of shape and was ready. You never know when you’re going to get that call. So that’s what I do, try to stay in some kind of shape, try to live the right lifestyle outside of boxing in case I have to get a call, and I’ll be ready.”

Since he was a jumper, “Boots” was running around his father’s gym observing, training and understanding what it takes to compete at the highest level.

“I’ve seen it all, so I know what it takes,” said “Boots.” “I know how everything is going and I have that confidence because I put in the effort. I know what to do and I know what I did. And I know that nobody can do anything with me. I’m in shape, I do everything well. I don’t take shortcuts. My training camps are going very well, so that’s where my confidence comes from for sure.”

Even though it was his third time fighting in the South Philadelphia arena earlier this month, “Boots” considered his first-round knockout of Lima a “coming full circle moment” because of how important this fight was, even if Lima wasn’t the biggest name in the game. It was “Boots'” first fight in a new division after being the unified welterweight champion, holding the IBF and WBA titles before making the jump to junior middleweight.

He’s been training his entire life to get to this point in the sport, where the glorified “pound-for-pound best” debate involves his name. And he doesn’t mind the pressure or expectations, especially given his family history in the sport.

That was demonstrated by his patented confidence after the fight. He called out those in his new weight class, including Vergil Ortiz Jr., the WBC interim champion.

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It is a fight that is in the works and is expected in 2026 after Ortiz fights on November 8.

“I want to take them down one by one. I want to show everyone why I’m the best in the world,” he said.

The pound-for-pound conversation usually revolves around Terence “Bud” Crawford, especially after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. He became the only male fighter in the four-belt era to be undisputed champion in three different weight classes, but that’s exactly what “Boots” is going for.

Some compare “Boots” to Crawford, but the former doesn’t like it. Not because I don’t respect Crawford’s fighting style.

“We are two totally different fighters. I don’t like it when they compare him and me because we don’t fight at all the same. He has his style and I have my style,” said “Boots.”

If there’s one thing “Boots” wants to be compared to when it comes to Crawford, it’s his legacy in boxing. Crawford is in the twilight of his career, while “Boots” is in its prime. There is the potential to be the pound-for-pound best in the sport, and “Boots” believes the conversation will only grow as he moves up the 154-pound class.

“My legacy, like I’ve said, is that I want to be a multi-division champion. And I want to show the world that I’m really him. And I will,” he said. “We started in [147 pounds] and I was linear champion at 147. I’m in the history books at 147. Now, we’re at 154 and moving on. 154, 160 and possibly 168.”

“Boots” simply answered “Facts” when asked if he thinks he will become the best pound-for-pound boxer at some point in his career.

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But the weight of those expectations has the ability to crush the shoulders of the fighter who carries them. However, “Boots” has the skill and support system necessary to get through that tough journey, which includes his mother, who he believes will do whatever he needs to support his dream.

“Family is everything. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said. “My brothers and my dad paved the way for me and my mom too. They showed me what to do and what not to do and stuff like that. And treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s how I carry myself.”

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