Jaron “Boots” Ennis makes his return to the squared circle on July 8 against Roiman Villa. The 26-year-old aims to improve to 31-1 (1 No Contest) and target collecting his 28th knockout victory against a relatively unknown opponent who popped onto the radar after upsetting Rashidi Ellis earlier this year.
For many, a victory for Boots is nothing more than a formality as the interim IBF welterweight champion continues to chomp at the bit for a major name in the 147-pound weight class. While the oddsmakers favor Ennis heavily, the real question is how does the Philly slugger match up with the rest of the division?
The switch-hitting Ennis is seen as the future of the division. He has obliterated his opposition in stunning fashion with eyebrow-raising victories over former junior welterweight titleholder Sergey Lipinets and fighters such as Thomas Dulorme and Custio Clayton.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa
With Errol Spence and Terence Crawford battling for the right to be recognized as the undisputed welterweight champion on July 29 and a rematch set for later this year, Ennis will have to wait to get a crack at championship gold.
In the interim, Boots could potentially face the winner of a proposed summer showdown between former champions Keith Thurman and Yordenis Ugas. Thurman is far from the “One Time” fighter who decimated his opposition while the 36-year-old Ugas is coming off of being stopped in the 10th round by Spence last April.
Both opponents would bolster Ennis’ popularity, should a fight come to fruition. And you have to like his chances against either fighter. His youth, size, strength and overall ability would make him the favorite against Ugas or Thurman and it could serve as the breakout performance that Ennis needs to put him in the line of sight for casual fight fans.
Should a fight against Ugas or Thurman not emerge, Ennis could face someone like the blue-collar working Cody Crowley. Given Crowley’s lack of power (nine knockouts in 22 fights), Ennis would again be the heavy favorite heading into that bout.
Perhaps the most intriguing opponent would be a showdown with perennial knockout artist Vergil Ortiz (19-0, 19 KOs). However, with Ortiz's health issues plaguing his young boxing career, one has to wonder if a bout between the two would ever come to fruition.
MORE: Why is Jaron Ennis called 'Boots?'
There is also the man who was set to face Ortiz on July 8, Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs). They have a common opponent in Thomas Dulorme and Stanionis battled him to a unanimous decision while Ennis sent him packing in one round. Boots would likely be a significant favorite against Stanionis.
Which leaves Spence and Crawford as the most formidable opposition to Ennis. It’s possible that neither end up facing Ennis as they are certain to be entangled with each other for the next year and both have expressed interest in moving up to 154 pounds once their business against each other is settled.
Nevertheless, both Spence and Crawford are proven commodities as both sit within the top five of most pound-for-pound lists. Neither has tasted defeat or come remotely close against the best that the welterweight division has to offer. Ennis’ youth and undeniable ability would make him a threat against either but he’d certainly enter the fight as the underdog as he is not nearly as proven as both titleholders.
But the fact remains that Ennis is destined to be a future titleholder in the division and even though he has yet to face a top-five welterweight, he’s undoubtedly the biggest threat to everyone in the division who has title hopes.