Ennis destroys Lima by first round TKO for WBA 154 title

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) made a statement Saturday night, knocking out a badly outclassed Uisma Lima (14-2, 10 KOs) in the first round in a brutal TKO victory to capture the interim WBA junior middleweight title in his debut at 154 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(Credit: Emma Brawley boxing fight in the match room)

Lima had no chance

Southpaw Lima was dropped twice in the first round by “Boots” before being eliminated with a barrage of heavy shots. Referee Sean Clarke intervened and stopped the carnage before Ennis could drop the seemingly helpless Lima for a third time. The official stoppage time was 1:58 of the first round.

Lima landed a big left hand that initially woke up ‘The Boots’, prompting him to follow up with a powerful right hand that dropped him hard to the canvas. That should have dropped anyone from 154th to 168th. It’s not like Lima dropped like a sack of potatoes after being scored on.

When Lima returned to his feet, he was unable to defend himself and was hit by a storm of shots from Ennis, who did not allow him the opportunity. He wanted to end it right there.

Crawford should have been next

After the carnage, both “Boots” and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, called out interim WBC 154-pound champion Virgil Ortiz Jr., saying they wanted him next. Surprisingly, they were aiming low on the food chain, wanting small game rather than targeting filet mignon, Terence Crawford. This is the one that would have made more sense.

Williams’ point: Go for Apex Predator

The way Ennis looked tonight, he would have beaten the 38-year-old Crawford and made it look just as easy. He looks good enough to be able to ease the Omaha native into the ground. This is who he should have fought. I would have gone to the big game if it had been me.