Jaron "Boots" Ennis Vs. Eimantas Stanionis Fight Card: Undercard
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 30: Jaron Ennis reacts after defeating Thomas Dulorme in a welterweight ... More bout at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 30, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ennis won the fight with a first-round knockout. (Photo by)
A notable boxing title fight occurs this weekend that could put the winner on the road toward becoming the undisputed welterweight champion. In that contest, which takes place on Saturday, April 12, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, pits IBF champion Jeron 'Boots' Ennis against WBA titleholder Eimantas Stanionis. Ennis vs. Stanionis is not the only title fight on the card. Below, we look at that fight as well as the other bouts on the Ennis vs. Stanionis undercard.
Raymond Ford vs. Thomas Mattice, 10 rounds, super featherweight – WBA Continental North America title
Omari Jones vs. William Jackson, 6 rounds, junior middleweight
Arturo Popoca vs. Christian Carto, 10 rounds, super bantamweight - WBA Continental North America title
Shakhram Giyasov vs. Franco Maximiliano Ocampo, 10 rounds, welterweight
Tahmir Smalls vs. Earl Bascome, 8 rounds, welterweight
Francisco Rodriguez vs. Naheem Parker, 6 rounds, lightweight
Zaquin Moses vs. Alex Pallette, 4 rounds, junior lightweight
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JUNE 01: Raymond Ford of Team Matchroom enters the ring prior to the during ... More the WBA World Featherweight Title fight between Raymond Ford of Team Matchroom and Nick Ball of Team Queensberry on the 5v5: Queensberry v Matchroom Fight Night card at Kingdom Arena on June 01, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by)
Raymond Ford (16-1-1, 8 KOs) won the vacant WBA featherweight title in March 2024 with a TKO win over Otabek Kholmatov. Ford lost a split decision to Nick Ball in his first defense of that title.
After his first career defeat, Ford moved up to super featherweight, beating Orlando Gonzalez by unanimous decision in a 10-round contest. In his second fight at 130 pounds, the 26-year-old from Camden, New Jersey, faces Mattice for the WBA Continental North America super featherweight title.
ESPN has Ford ranked at No. 7 in the division. He is No. 6 according to the IBF, No. 5 with the WBA, No. 4 in the WBC rankings and No. 8 with the WBO.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 05: Thomas Mattice makes his entrance for a junior lightweight bout ... More against Luis Melendez at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on November 05, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by)
Thomas Mattice (22-4-1 with 17 KOs), who fights out of Cleveland, Ohio, is coming off a loss in his last bout after an accidental headbutt left him unable to continue his September 2024 contest against Eduardo Hernandez. Mattice is unranked by the major sanctioning bodies and ESPN.
I'm excited to fight in Atlantic City, it's pretty much a home fight for me so I'm going to do what I do best and put on a show,' said Ford. 'I know a lot of guys turned me down and it's been hard to get someone to take the fight. Credit to Mattice for stepping up but there's nobody at 130 pounds getting in my way. I'm coming for all the champions, and they can't keep running forever.'
'I'm super excited about the opportunity,' the 34-year-old Mattice said. 'I know buddy, but not personally but anyone that knows me, knows I'll scrap with whoever whenever, it's really easy with me. I'm looking forward to an action-packed fight with my hands being raised at the end #andthenew.'
Ford is a -1300 betting favorite over Mattice, who is a +710 underdog according to FanDuel.
Arturo Popoca (15-0-1 with 8 KOs) has had three decision wins in his past three fights, moving from a unanimous win over Ernesto Garcia in February 2024 to a majority decision over Danny Barrios in June to a split decision over Jesus Arechiga in his most recent outing in August. The 24-year-old from Sahuayo de Morelos, Michoacan, Mexico, last picked up a knockout in December 2023. Popoca holds the WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight crown. He has defended the title twice.
Christian Carto (23-1 with 16 KOs) is riding a six-fight winning streak heading into Saturday's fight card. Carto, who fights out of Philadelphia, has knockout wins in his past three outings, most recently stopping Carlos Buitrago at the end of the third round in their July 2024 matchup.
A big thank you to my team at RGBA and Matchroom for putting me on a such a great card,' said Popoca. 'I'm really excited to show the fans in Atlantic City what I can do in the ring. It's going to be a great night of boxing and I plan on stealing the show'
"I'm looking forward to fighting in Atlantic City and proving my talent on DAZN,' said the 28-year-old Carto. 'I'm thankful to be fighting for a title and I'm ready for the opportunity!'
Saturday, April 12
Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ
DAZN
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 6: Jaron Ennis poses for photos during Media Day ahead of the ... More IBF welterweight title bout against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mark Robinson/)
The 27-year-old Ennis (33-0-0-1 with 29 knockouts) won the vacant IBF interim welterweight crown in January 2023 with a unanimous decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian. He retained that title in July 2023 with a 10th-round knockout win over Roiman Villa. Ennis was elevated to full champion status in November 2023 when the sanctioning body stripped Terence Crawford of the belt not long after Crawford unified the welterweight titles with a win over Errol Spence Jr.
In his first defense of the IBF crown, Ennis defeated David Avanesyan when the fight was halted before the start of the sixth round. In his most recent outing, Ennis defeated Chukhadzhian by decision in a rematch in November 2024.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 04: Eimantas Stanionis reacts after defeating Gabriel Maestre by unanimous ... More decision in their WBA welterweight championship title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by)
The 30-year-old Stanionis (15-0-0-1 with nine knockouts) won the WBA crown in April 2022 with a split-decision victory over Radzhab Butaev. Stanionis did not fight again until May 2024, after three fights against Vergil Ortiz Jr. were canceled.
Stanionis was forced out of the first scheduled fight with Ortiz in early 2023 because of an emergency appendectomy. Ortiz withdrew from the rescheduled contest in March of that year because of rhabdomyolysis, a serious muscle condition. Then, in July, the fight was again scratched at the last minute because of dehydration.
Stanionis defended his title in May 2024 with a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Maestre.
ESPN has the two 147-pound competitors ranked at the top of the welterweight division, with Ennis at No. 1 and Stanionis at No. 2.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 6: Jaron Ennis poses for photos during Media Day ahead of the ... More IBF welterweight title bout against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mark Robinson/)
'I'm the best in the world in the Welterweight division,' Ennis said.' "Whatever he does, I do better. I don't think he's watched my fights; I never get tired. It's going to be a long night for him. It's my belt and his belt; it's time to Claim The Crown.'
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 04: Eimantas Stanionis celebrates after defeating Gabriel Maestre by ... More unanimous decision in their WBA welterweight championship title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by)
'They are calling him a superstar but I'm in the way,' said Stanionis. 'I want to f--- up all the plans."
'He's a great fighter but we all have two legs, two hands, nobody's unbeatable. I come to fight.'
We will have more on the Ennis Vs. Stanionis fight card, including updated betting odds, as fight night approaches. On fight night, we will have results, reactions and highlights for the full Ennis Vs. Stanionis fight card.
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