Jaron “Boots” Ennis' junior middleweight debut is officially set.
Matchroom Boxing announced on Monday that Ennis will square off against
Uisma Lima on Oct. 11 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on DAZN. The bout is slated to be a 154-pound WBA title eliminator in what will be Ennis’s third hometown fight in the arena since last year.
"They can say what they want, it doesn’t make me a difference. These dudes can’t tie my shoes,” Ennis said. “I'm the best in the world and they know it! I want all the big names and belts. The tour continues.”
Ennis (34-0 30 KOs) stopped Eimantas Stanionis in six rounds in April to become the The Ring, WBA and IBF welterweight champion. Ennis announced in June that he’d be
moving up to 154 pounds. In July, Matchroom signed Ennis to a new multi-fight, multi-year contract extension.
Ennis has yet to fight at 154 pounds yet is ranked No. 1 by the WBC, No. 2 by the WBA, and No. 4 by the WBO based on his accomplishments at 147.
If Ennis successfully gets past Lima, the plan is for him to face Vergil Ortiz Jr. next year.
The little-known Lima (14-1 10 KOs) is a 32-year-old from Angola who now lives in Portugal. Lima, who has never fought in the United States, is riding a four-fight winning streak since suffering the lone loss of his career to Aaron McKenna in 2023 via unanimous decision. Lima has beaten three-unbeaten fighters in a row across South Africa, Canada, and Germany.
“I am very excited to be taking on the biggest challenge of my life against a legit, world-level fighter in Ennis,” Lima said. “I believe in myself … we will be coming to war. Please don’t take me lightly, Boots, as I am coming to win.”
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn is bullish on Boots’ potential in a new weight class.
“I cannot wait to see Boots at 154 pounds,” he said. “Jaron was outstanding in what turned out to be his last fight at 147 pounds, but after listening to his body, it’s time to start the journey to two-weight glory, and I cannot wait to see what sort of animal this man will be at his new weight.
“But October 11 is a real test. Uisma has consistently won fights on hostile territory, and the big-hitting African is coming to Philly to make a name for himself and take those big fights that are there for Boots next.”
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.