The fight between Jaron Ennis and Chris van Heerden was ruled a no-decision after the latter was cut early and couldn’t continue.
Jaron Ennis didn’t get much of a chance to show off his ability.
Ennis, a fast-rising welterweight contender, was giving Chris van Heerden a shellacking in the opening round of their fight on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Reymart Gaballo card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn, when disaster struck.
The fighters’ heads collided violently with about 20 seconds remaining in the round, causing a ghastly cut on van Heerden’s forehead.
The referee stopped the action, the ring doctor took a look and the fight was stopped immediately. The official time was 2:39. It was ruled a no-decision because the cut resulted from an accidental headbutt.
Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) looked formidable for 2½ minutes, fighting mostly from a southpaw stance. The uber-quick, powerful Philadelphian landed punishing shots from a variety of angles and to all legal targets.
Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) tried to stand his ground and fight back but he seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by Ennis’ attack.
Then came the end. Ennis missed a straight left with van Heerden’s back against the ropes. Van Heerden reacted by lunging forward in an attempt to throw a right hand.
That’s when their heads collided. They both brought a glove to their heads and were experienced pain. However, only Van Heerden was cut.
Ennis had hoped to make a big statement, which he believed would lead to a matchup with one of the big-name 147-pounders. Obviously, that could still happen.
However, no one was happy about the way the fight ended on Saturday.
The fight between Jaron Ennis and Chris van Heerden was ruled a no-decision after the latter was cut early and couldn’t continue.
Jaron Ennis didn’t get much of a chance to show off his ability.
Ennis, a fast-rising welterweight contender, was giving Chris van Heerden a shellacking in the opening round of their fight on the Emmanuel Rodriguez-Reymart Gaballo card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn, when disaster struck.
The fighters’ heads collided violently with about 20 seconds remaining in the round, causing a ghastly cut on van Heerden’s forehead.
The referee stopped the action, the ring doctor took a look and the fight was stopped immediately. The official time was 2:39. It was ruled a no-decision because the cut resulted from an accidental headbutt.
Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) looked formidable for 2½ minutes, fighting mostly from a southpaw stance. The uber-quick, powerful Philadelphian landed punishing shots from a variety of angles and to all legal targets.
Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) tried to stand his ground and fight back but he seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by Ennis’ attack.
Then came the end. Ennis missed a straight left with van Heerden’s back against the ropes. Van Heerden reacted by lunging forward in an attempt to throw a right hand.
That’s when their heads collided. They both brought a glove to their heads and were experienced pain. However, only Van Heerden was cut.
Ennis had hoped to make a big statement, which he believed would lead to a matchup with one of the big-name 147-pounders. Obviously, that could still happen.
However, no one was happy about the way the fight ended on Saturday.
Jaron Ennis, who fights Chris van Heerden on Saturday, says he wants to win titles in multiple divisions and become a ‘legend.’
Jaron Ennis says the right things.
“Boots” says he isn’t looking past his fight against Chris van Heerden Saturday at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. (Showtime). He says he’s patiently building his fan base and waiting for his turn to take on the elite welterweights.
At the same time, he acknowledges that big things seem to lie ahead. Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) has a rare combination of ability and power, which has made him one of the brightest burgeoning stars.
“I feel like I’ve been ready for those guys since I was like 18-0,” he told Boxing Junkie, referring to the top 147-pounders. “I’ve been trying to get them. It’s been hard. I feel like I’m getting closer and closer.
“And after I make a big statement [on Saturday], I should be able to get fights against the big names.”
Juan Carlos Abreu was just another Jaron Ennis knockout victim. Amanda Westcott / Showtime
Ennis, once a top amateur, reminds some of a young Roy Jones Jr. The Philadelphian has unusual quickness and athleticism – along with a less tangible flair – but also can end fights with a single punch. He has stopped his last 16 opponents, including a sixth-round knockout of Juan Carlos Abreu on Sept. 19.
And this is scary: He said he still isn’t turning his punches off, still not sitting down completely on his power shots. The knockouts just happen.
“I just go in there and have fun and try to be the best version of me,” he said. “I listen to what my dad [and trainer Derek Ennis Sr.] says, do the game plan. And nine out of 10 times it ends up being a knockout.”
Can he maintain the streak against van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs)?
Well, this a particularly interesting test for Ennis because one of those elite welterweights – Errol Spence Jr. – knocked out the South African in eight rounds in 2015. That’s only time the 33-year-old from Johannesburg was stopped.
Van Heerden has won five consecutive fights since against solid, but second-tier opposition. He probably isn’t a significant threat to a fighter of Ennis’ ability.
Still, Ennis says he’s motivated. He’s ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, meaning a title fight is within sight. He can’t afford a slip up.
“That’s definitely not an issue,” he said. “Every fight I feel like I’m hungrier and hungrier, better and better. I wan to continue performing on a high level, building my fan base. And I want to keep giving you guys a different look every fight.
“… And then, after I make a statement on Saturday, this is it. I’m at the door. In 2021 I’m knocking down the door.”
Yes, Ennis is thinking big.
His immediate goal is to win a 147-pound title and then unify. Then he wants to do the same at 154, then 160 and possibly beyond. He wants to be mentioned in the same sentence as his idols, Jones, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Sweet Pea Whitaker.
