‘Boots’ Ennis explains family’s impact on boxing journey as he eyes greatness

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

“In and out like a flight,” Ennis, 28, said with a smirk.

Confidence is a necessity in boxing – a fighter must believe that he will defeat his opponent regardless of the odds. But Ennis, a Philadelphia native, seemed so sure of himself in that moment. Granted, he was a heavy favorite, but this was his first fight in the 154-pound junior middleweight division.

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Yet he backed up every word, knocking down Lima twice before a first-round stoppage to secure the WBA interim 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 canvas, ropes and gloves feel like home. This is a comfort because, after all, it is the family business.

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

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In Philadelphia, the Ennis last name rings bells in the boxing community. It begins with Derek “Bozy” Ennis, “Boots’s” father and trainer, who was understandably tougher on his boy than the rest of his clients.

“It’s expected because he knows what I can do,” “Boots” said of his father’s training. “I have to achieve this, so that’s what I’m doing. I don’t take my dad’s criticism badly – ​​it’s actually motivation for me to keep going.”

“Boots” added that he prefers tough love, saying, “I don’t want no yes-men around me.” He wants to know what he is doing right or wrong.

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

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

So since his show jumping days, “Boots” would run around his father’s gym, observing, training and understanding what it took to compete at the highest level.

Jaron Ennis poses for photos during Media Day ahead of the IBF welterweight title fight against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

“I’ve seen it all, so I know what to do,” “Boots” said. “I know how everything goes and I just have this confidence because I’ve been working. I know what to do and I know what I’ve done, and I know there’s nothing anyone can do with me. I’m in shape, I’m doing everything right, I’m not skimping. My training camps are going really well, so that’s where my confidence comes from.”

Even though it was his third time fighting in the South Philly arena earlier this month, “Boots” considered his first-round knockout against Lima a “full circle moment” because of the importance of that fight, even though Lima wasn’t the biggest name in the match. This was ‘Boots’ first fight in a new division after being the unified welterweight champion, holding both the IBF and WBA titles before moving up to junior middleweight.

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

This was demonstrated by his patented confidence that wasn’t too quiet after the fight, as he called out those in his new weight class, including Vergil Ortiz Jr., the WBC interim champion.

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

“I want to eliminate them 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 he beat Canelo Álvarez 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” aims for.

Jaron Ennis (left) and Eimantas Stanionis (right) during their fight for the Ring Magazine, IBF World and WBA welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

In fact, some compare “Boots” to Crawford, but the former isn’t a fan of it. Not because he doesn’t respect Crawford’s fighting style, but rather, in his mind, they are two separate entities.

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

If there’s anything “Boots” wants to be compared to when it comes to Crawford, it’s their legacy in boxing. Crawford is in the twilight of his career, while “Boots” is at its peak. The potential is there to become the sport’s pound-for-pound best, and “Boots” believes the conversation will only grow as he progresses through the 154-pound class.

“My legacy, like I said, 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 to [147 pounds] and I was online champion at 147 – I’m in the history books at 147. Now we’re at 154 now, and we’re still going. 154, 160 and possibly 168.”

“Boots” simply replied “Facts” when asked if he thought he would reach the mark for best pound-for-pound boxer at some point in his career. Again, the quiet confidence as he smiled.

Jaron Ennis celebrates his victory over Eimantas Stanionis to win the IBF, WBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Ed Mulholland/Getty Images)

But the weight of these expectations has the capacity to crush the shoulders of the fighter who carries the burden. However, “Boots” has the skills and support system to get through this hard-fought journey, which includes his mother, who he believes will do whatever he needs to make his dream come true.

“Family means 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 as well. They showed me what to do and what not to do and things like that. And treat people the way you want to be treated. That’s how I carry myself.”