ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 12: Jaron Ennis (L) and Eimantas Stanionis (R) during their fight for the Ring Magazine, IBF world & WBA world welterweight titles at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on April 12, 2025 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images)
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After unifying two of the welterweight belts six months ago, it was assumed by some that Jaron “Boots” Ennis would potentially try to get the other two straps and become the undisputed champion at 147 pounds. Instead, he’s since changed his plans and moved up a weight class. Now, for his junior middleweight debut, he’ll face a man you probably don’t know much about, as the boxing world continues to wait for Ennis to find an opponent who will truly challenge him. Here’s everything you need to know about Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
Despite beating Eimantas Stanionis in April to unify two belts, Ennis has taken plenty of heat recently. A potential deal to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. fell apart, and Ennis was the one who took the blame. Ortiz said he accepted the fight but Ennis’s team did not.
Either way, Ennis moved up to 154 pounds. But his choice of opponents wasn’t exactly impressive. Choosing Lima, though, doesn’t mean a fight vs. Ortiz isn’t still a possibility, especially since Ennis’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is saying that the matchup between the two could be made for early 2026 (assuming Ortiz beats Erickson Lubin on November 8).
“That [Ortiz] fight is there,” Ennis said. “Our focus is handling business and getting Lima out of the way, looking good. [I want to] make a big statement in the 154-pound division, and I’m ready.”
Junior middleweight won’t be an easy division to conquer. Sebastian Fundora, Xander Zayas and Bakhram Murtazaliev hold world titles, and Israil Madrimov (who gave Terence Crawford one of his toughest fights) and Lubin wouldn’t be easy opponents either. The Portuguese boxer who fights Saturday would like to include himself on that list.
“I don’t have a big promotion behind me like Eddie Hearn, but I want to fight these big names,” Lima said. “Boots does everything well, but me too. I work hard, I have good footwork, I have an explosive punch. I think they have made a big mistake.”
While Ennis, who is not yet on my pound-for-pound list but who certainly has that level of talent, sparred with Canelo Alvarez to help him get ready for the Crawford showdown, Lima sparred with undefeated 140-pound prospect Adam Azim to prepare himself for Ennis.
“I want to put my name in history. I don’t want to be just the No. 1 in Portugal. I want respect,” Lima said. “ … Everyone wants to be a world champion; me too. When I finish with Boots, people will know me.”
Here’s more info on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
06 April 2024, Brandenburg, Falkensee: Boxing: IBF Intercontinental, Junior Middleweight, Lima (Portugal) – Matevosyan (Germany), Stadthalle Falkensee. Haro Matevosyan (r) in action against Uisma Lima. Photo: Hannes P. Albert/dpa (Photo by Hannes P. Albert/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima odds
Unsurprisingly, Ennis is the big betting favorite at -5000 (bet $5,000 to win $100), while Lima is the +1400 underdog (win $1,400 on a $100 wager). You can ignore Ennis’s money line, but you’re still not getting a great value if you pick him to win by stoppage (-355). Maybe you could go with him winning by decision at +275, but I think the most likely result is for Ennis to win by stoppage in rounds 5-8 at +175. But if that’s the best bet of the fight, it might be better just to skip wagering on it altogether.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima records
At 34-0 (30 KOs), Ennis certainly has some solid victories, including wins vs. Eimantas Stanionis, David Avanesyan and Sergiy Lipinets. But we’re still waiting on Ennis to face an elite opponent, and it appears unlikely that Lima will provide that for him.
Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) is on a four-fight winning streak, and the combined record of his last three opponents is 52-0. But all of those opponents are basically unknown to American fight fans, so it’s difficult to gauge just how good (or not so good) Lima is in the ring. His only loss came vs. the undefeated Aaron McKenna, who has since beaten former world titlist Liam Smith.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Uisma Lima prediction
Lima might not be an easy opponent, but Ennis shouldn’t have many problems for his junior middleweight debut. Say Ennis by stoppage in the seventh round.