So, I get asked this a lot—why do I dig boxing more than mixed martial arts? The answer? It’s kinda messy, but I’ll give it a go—boxing feels… sharper? I don’t mean clean like squeaky clean (heavens no, the politics in boxing? Messy). I mean like, technically clean. Mixed martial arts is all about those wild kicks and throwing people to the floor, and that’s cool, but there’s something about boxing—this precision, you know? Like watching Jaron “Boots” Ennis put on that masterclass against Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City.
I still think about that fight. Stanionis, the dude with the WBA welterweight belt, wasn’t playing around. Undefeated, relentless, looked like he might just flip the script. Spoiler alert: He didn’t. Why, you ask? Because Ennis, our IBF champ, was just on another level. Seriously, there were moments where I was like, “These dudes shouldn’t even be in the same ring.” Talent gap? More like talent canyon. Stanionis is solid, but Ennis? This guy might just be bordering on greatness.
It wasn’t your typical brawl, but man, it was riveting—like the kind of match you wouldn’t catch in an octagon. Ennis was playing some next-level chess, keeping his distance perfectly. Somehow he dodges these hits and lands his own like an artist or something. Stanionis had his little moments of glory, but ultimately? Nah, didn’t amount to much. His corner saw where things were heading and threw in the towel—probably while picturing their fighter’s future health. Smart, if you ask me. Ennis really made a statement, shining bright for the Philadelphia boxing scene.
Would Ennis thrive in a mixed martial arts setting like Holly Holm did? Super doubtful. His game is all about the finesse and rhythm of boxing—not so much the chaos of MMA. He’s not a “defend, defend, defend” guy—it’s more fluid, more powerful. Seeing him in action is like watching poetry, except punchier. Boxing, man. When it’s done right, there’s not much quite like it.
