Jaron Ennis is out here really lacing up those boots tight, getting set for this big showdown for title unification. Or maybe the lineal champ. I dunno, both? Anyways, his opponent, Eimantas Stanionis, is no slouch. This guy’s got grit—like, really knows his way around the ring. These two have walked a long, winding path to get to this matchup. Nothing’s come easy. Finding somebody worth stepping into the ring with Jaron Ennis? That’s been, let me put it this way, a bit of a nightmare due to the risk-to-reward thing. And poor Eimantas, he almost had a fight setup with rising star Vergil Ortiz, only for—bam!—it all falls apart like wet cardboard. Now, we’re all in for a treat as Ennis and Stanionis clash in the iconic Atlantic City, streaming live on that DAZN magic.
Now, if you’re one of those folks who just skims the scorecards on boxrec (because who has the time, really?), you’d probably think Jaron Ennis breezed through his fights with Karen Chukhadzhian. But, eh, not so fast. Their first battle was like one of those 12-round snooze-fests—wondering if anyone spotted Ennis yawning mid-round?—but, let me tell you, Karen was a thorn in his side, style-wise. Ennis hadn’t heard the final bell, not since 2017, which was just a measly 6-rounder from memory. Then came the double-whammy of back-to-back stops, and guess who the IBF called up? Yep, Karen again. Mandatory challenger and all. The boxing gods have a quirky sense of humor, huh?
Their rematch was way more exciting—a proper scrap, I’d say. Ennis showed a clearer dominance, but oh man, his defense was not up to scratch. Let’s be real, he loves a good punch-up, can’t resist it. Maybe hits too many? But here’s the kicker: Ennis threw an absurd 730 punches and landed 224. Compubox says that’s a 31% landing rate, with power punches at 36%. Impressive, right? But lemme bring you down to earth—Karen’s rate was even higher. Landing 33% overall and 37% on those power shots. His left hand was like a heat-seeking missile. Boom. This could become a real issue when Ennis faces top-tier guys.
Saturday night’s the real litmus test for both fighters—seeing where they truly stand. Eimantas, the poor guy, got rudely interrupted three times trying to get a fight that counts. First came appendix surgery—ouch. Then twice struck out thanks to Vergil Ortiz’s bouts with Rhabdomyolysis. Three strikes, but not quite out, as he’s prepping for what might be his toughest fight yet.
Remember 2022? Stanionis versus Radzhab Butaev was something. It was a split decision, but honestly, how in the world did a judge see Butaev winning 7 rounds? That’s bonkers. A split decision doesn’t mean a split story, folks! Now, coming back almost a year later, after being pretty quiet, the stakes are high. Ennis, on the other hand, kept busy, squeezing in two fights last year.
Quick lowdown: Stanionis keeps it tight, like a turtle in its shell, but watch out for those power punches after a jab setup. Pretty neat with that high guard, moving at range. Might wanna watch how he targets the body too because Butaev landed some solid body shots against him. Right hooks, left uppercuts—all Stanionis’s bread and butter. So what’s the game plan for Ennis? Probably leveraging that reach—Ennis has got a 74-inch span compared to Stanionis’s 68. It’s like the Mr. Fantastic of boxing.
Both of them, let me say it, not the most fleet-footed. Like, it’s almost comedic sometimes. So the winner? Maybe the guy who takes advantage of all those dance floor follies. Angles matter too. Ennis is prone to slugging it out close up. Mix a little strategic boxing in though, and he could dance circles around Stanionis. Watch out for him timing that jab of Eimantas’s, learning a thing or two from his rounds against Karen.
First half, maybe deep into the 7th or 8th, it’s probably gonna be a fist-flurry bonanza—juice bar open, folks! But in the end, Ennis’s knack for switching things up, punching from inside out, will most likely steal the show. Ennis’s got power, a real oomph in those gloves. Ennis needs to put that athleticism to good use, targeting Stanionis’s body with power shots, sweet, sweet counters that’ll stop Eimantas right in his tracks.
If Ennis wants to give that Philly crowd a proper fireworks display, then we might be looking at a knockout or he just might squeak through with a decision. Ennis is +144 for a knockout, by the way, and -121 for a decision, if you’re one for odds. Stanionis, he’s quite the underdog with like +990 odds for a KO. You never know, crazier things have happened in boxing. But all in all, Ennis probably takes this one, even if it won’t be a walk in the park. My bet? Unanimous Decision for Ennis. Yup, sticking with that.
