Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis got riled up today at his opponent, Uisma Lima, after he guaranteed victory on Saturday in their main event fight on DAZN.
Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) dared Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) to “bet” on the outcome of their fight. He quickly turned down the offer, saying, “I don’t have as much money as you.”
Boots Loses His Cool
Indeed, Lima isn’t a millionaire like ‘Boots’. He’s a fighter who has been selected by ‘Boots’ Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, for him to get his feet wet in the 154-lb division without suffering an immediate loss or looking bad again.
“I know I can beat you,” said Uisma Lima to Jaron Ennis during today’s final press conference. “I’m an elite fighter. I have everything. I have ring IQ, and I’m in the best shape of my life. So, I can do everything he can do.”
Ghost Town Press Conference
Insider take: Today’s press conference was as barren as a ghost town. It was empty of media and fans, and one could hear the echo. There is so little interest in this fight from fans and the media. For a fighter who is viewed as a future star, it’s disappointing to see the lack of interest.
Hearn guessed wrong when selecting Lima as ‘Boots’ opponent for his debut at junior middleweight. He should have aimed a little higher toward a top-10-level talent that fans have heard of. To liven things up, the press conference needed the other fighters on stage with them. That wouldn’t have worked due to the limited seating.
“We trained for this moment. On Saturday, we’ll see that I have everything,” said Lima.
“I like that he’s confident, but he’s talking too much,” said Ennis. “It’s going to be an early night, and I’m going to have some fun. I’m not here to play any games. You’re fighting those guys over there. They don’t have my skills, my power, or my ability.”
What does Ennis expect Lima to act like? Should he have cringed, bowed, and scraped the ground in his presence? This fight is Lima’s big opportunity to make a name for himself, and he’s already said that he can put on the kind of performance that will make Hearn offer him a contract with Matchroom.
Charisma Check: Lima Wins
Sean’s Commentary: Uisma stole the room today without even trying. Lima was the center of attention with a Hollywood presence. It didn’t matter that his English was broken; he had that IT factor today in comparison to ‘Boots.’
Lima showed more charisma today than Ennis and his dad, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, put together. He at least made it enjoyable with his confidence and his prediction of victory. In contrast, Ennis was parroting the same lines he uses for every interview, saying, “Once I have my fun.” He says the same thing every time. It’s a waste of time even to interview him.
“When he gets in there with me on Saturday, he’s going to think, ‘He’s a lot faster than I thought. He’s a lot stronger than I thought. He knows that,” said Ennnis. “Come out on Saturday night. Don’t miss a spectacular knockout. I win this fight however I want to do it. I’m not here to play. I’m coming.”
By Sean Jones — Boxing Columnist, Breaking Down Fights Since 2016.