Jaron Ennis isn’t complaining about the highlight-reel-worthy knockouts or truckloads of money he received but all he ever wanted was an opportunity to shine.

Boxing is a funny sport. If certain fighters are hesitant to get in the ring with you, then guess what? They won’t.

Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) was your typical case of high risk, low reward. Meaning, the beating he was likely to dish out, simply wasn’t worth the paycheck. At that point, Ennis took what he could get. But while he was knocking off lower-level names, he was hoping that his hard work would eventually pay off.

Officially, those long workouts and restless jogs have pushed him to the stage where he always knew he belonged. On April 12th, Eimantas Stanionis will step up to the plate when the two get it on in the main event slot in Atlantic City.

When Ennis calls himself the best of the rest, some may call it arrogance. He calls it confidence. But just because he views himself as the welterweight division’s top dog, it doesn’t mean Stanionis doesn’t have his respect. The way he sees it, Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) is great in his own right, making their unification must-watch TV.

“I know I’m the best in the welterweight division,” said Ennis on The Porter Way Podcast. “He’s the second best. The best fighting the best.”

Stanionis has never been afraid of Ennis or anyone else for that matter. The Ring’s No. 2 ranked welter and WBA belt holder is fresh off a lopsided win over Gabriel Maestre.

Ennis isn’t the only one stomping around with a ton of confidence. In that department, Stanionis matches him.

Now, it all comes down to who’s the better fighter. That answer, according to Ennis, will be painfully obvious once the bell rings.

“Y’all gonna see April 12th.”