Jaron “Boots” Ennis Defends Interim Title Against All-action Roiman Villa – Exciting Cuban Sensation Yoelvis Gómez Duels Rising Contender Marquis Taylor in Co-Main Event live on Showtime at 9:30 PM ET/6:30 PM PT Tonight
By Robert Segal: Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will defend his interim IBF welterweight title against #2 Roiman Villa in the headliner on July 8 on Showtime. Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) stays busy while waiting for his eventual chance to fight for the IBF 147-lb belt. Ennis will likely be elevated to the full IBF championship status in 2024.
Interestingly the reaction from fans about the Ennis-Villa fight has been largely negative on social media, with many seeing the powerful Venezuelan Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) as another cab driver-level opponent for Boots Ennis and not a talented contender worthy of sharing the ring with him.
Ennis would fight better-known guys like Keith Thurman or Vergil Ortiz Jr if those guys were interested in fighting him, but they’re not. They likely view Boot as too dangerous to risk suffering a loss and watching their career earning potential plummet.
WHAT TIME IS ENNIS VS. VILLA?
- Date: Saturday, July 8
- Start time: 2.30 a.m. BST / 9.30 p.m. ET
- The fight will take place at The Ballroom in Atlantic City.
- The figh will be LIVE on Showtime
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 5 a.m. BST / 12 a.m. ET
- The event is set to get underway at 2.30 a.m. BST / 9.30 p.m. ET
This is one of the rare fights in Atlantic City, which used to stage massive amounts of fights during the 80s & 90s, but not anymore.
Villa is a massive upgrade to Ennis’ last opponent Karen Chukhadzhian, who was on his bike the entire 12 round fight last January in Washington, D.C.
The management for Boots made a mistake in selecting Chukhadzhian as his opponent because he was in survival mode the entire night. Ennis did show that he could deal with a runner, but he wasn’t impressive in doing so.
Chukhadzhian exposed Boots’ inability to cut off the ring and throw body shots, which is what he would have needed to look impressive in this fight.
Villa, 30, is coming off an impressive upset win over previously unbeaten Rashidi Ellis last January, so he’s got the credentials to deserve a fight against Boots Ennis. Casual boxing fans might not think Villa is worthy of a fight against
The eight-year pro Villa’s other wins had come against little-known opposition in Colombia, which is why U.S fans had never seen or heard of him before unless they purchased the Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Garcia card on Showtime PPV last January, and many of them didn’t.
Boots Ennis has been trying to get a title shot against the welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford. Those two will be fighting twice this year, and both are expected to move up to 154 in 2024 after concluding their rivalry.
At that point, the International Boxing Federation will either elevate Ennis to champion or order him to fight for the vacant IBF title against the highest-ranking contenders willing & able to fight him.
ENNIS – VILLA CARD
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Jaron Ennis 145.5 vs. Roiman Villa 146.5
Yoelvis Gómez 159 vs. Marquis Taylor 158
Edwin De Los Santos 133 vs. Joseph Adorno 135
Euri Cedeno 159 vs. William Townsel 157.5
Steven Torres 239 vs. James Evans 225.5
Dwyke Flemmings Jr. 156.5 vs. Henry Rivera 156.5