Eager to face the winner of the July 29 clash between Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford, Jaron Ennis is forcing the boxing world to acknowledge him one win at a time. Ennis believes he's on a path to greatness, as he lets his fists do the talking.
"Boots" looks to continue that trend when he defends the interim IBF welterweight title against Roiman Villa on July 8. The fight is on Showtime in the U.S. and emanates from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Ennis (30-0) has 27 wins via knockout and is just starting to compete in the championship rounds in fights. He recently beat Karen Chukhadzhian in January via unanimous decision to win the interim IBF belt. His goal has been to face the best boxing has to offer. If Spence or Crawford move up in weight, Ennis will follow wherever they go.
"It don't matter where they at," said Ennis to YSM Sports Media via Boxing Scene. "They could be at 60, 68. It don't matter. They gotta see me…
"When I fight somebody that's good like me, y'all gonna see a whole different me. It's gonna be easier, I'm gonna be sharper."
MORE: Why is Jaron Ennis called 'Boots?'
Villa (26-1) turned pro in 2015, and the Colombian last fought in January, beating Rashidi Ellis via majority decision. With 24 wins via knockout and the underdog, "Flaco de Oro" is ready to shake things up at welterweight.
Outside the main event, power punchers highlight a talented undercard. Here's a breakdown of the Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa Showtime card.
Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa undercard
Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor
- Division/Weight: Middleweight
- Gomez record: 6-0
- Taylor record: 14-1-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
In the co-main event, Yoelvis Gomez faces Marquis Taylor. Gomez (6-0) turned pro in 2019. The 25-year-old Cuban sensation has won five bouts via knockout. After beating MMA and boxing star Clay Collard via TKO in 2021, "La Joya" beat veteran Jorge Cota in May 2022 via unanimous decision.
"The wait is over, and I'm excited to return to the ring," said Gomez. "I'm very thankful to my whole team for bringing me back on the big stage. I had a great camp in L.A. with my trainer Joe Goossen, who has polished my style. I feel like a hungry lion, and I'm ready to eat. My plan is to get the knockout and prove why I am the new boogeyman in the division. Taylor is going down, and the fans are going to see me at my best."
Taylor (14-1-2) turned pro in 2013. After losing his fourth fight, the 29-year-old has gone 11-2 and is on a two-fight win streak. His last bout was a win via disqualification against Oscar Chacin in February.
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"This is a great matchup, and I'm excited about the opportunity," said Taylor. "We're two really good fighters, and it will be a great matchup for the fans. Yoelvis Gomez is a young, strong fighter, and he's aggressive with a lot of power. A win should put me in a position to compete for a world title. Everyone is gonna see that I'm a big contender when I win on July 8."
Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- De Los Santos record: 15-1
- Adorno record: 17-2-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Opening the card will be Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno. De Los Santos (15-1) turned pro in 2018. All but one win from the 23-year-old has been via knockout. Losing to William Foster III in January 2021, De Los Santos has since won two in a row, his last bout a knockout victory against Jose Valenzuela in September.
"I'm planning to show the world that I am an uncrowned world champion by scoring another sensational knockout on July 8," said De Los Santos. "I want to thank my team for giving me another opportunity to show off my skills and for believing in me after my defeat. I'm more motivated now than ever. I'm too close to my dream for anyone to be able to stop me."
Adorno (17-2-2) turned pro in 2016 following an amateur career with over 170 wins. The man with "Blessed Hands" has won 14 bouts via knockout. Since 2020, Adorno's 3-2-2 and recently had his three-fight win streak end in February against Elvis Rodriguez.
"For this fight, I've had a full training camp, so there are no excuses, and I'm ready to perform," said Adorno. "I expect De Los Santos to come ready and be strong. We know he has power in both hands, and we're gonna be ready for what he's bringing. My boxing skills will be the difference and get me the victory on July 8."
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When is Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa?
Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa is on July 8. The main card starts at 9:30 p.m. ET or 6:30 p.m. PT. The main event fighters should make their way to the ring around 11:30 p.m. ET or 9:30 p.m. PT, depending on how long the undercard fights last. Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:
| Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, July 8 | 9:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 p.m ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, July 8 | 6:30 p.m. ET | 9:30 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, July 9 | 2:30 a.m. BST | 5:30 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sunday, July 9 | 11:30 a.m. AEST | 2:30 p.m. AEST |
MORE: Everything you need to know about Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford
How to watch Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa?
| Region | TV channel | Live streaming |
| USA | Showtime | — |
| Canada | — | TBA |
| UK and Ireland | — | TBA |
| Australia | — | TBA |
Ennis vs. Villa will be on Showtime in the U.S..
Viewers can stream Showtime via Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox ONE, a laptop, or any mobile or tablet device.