Jaron Ennis plans to start a new knockout streak against Roiman Villa on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Jaron Ennis is doing what many of the top contenders are doing: He’s waiting.
The 147-pound knockout artist is beating every second-tier opponent placed in front of him and waiting for his big opportunity, a showdown with one of the titleholders (the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner?) or another top welterweight.
If playing that game bothers him, he doesn’t show it.
“It’s not really difficult,” he told Boxing Junkie. “… I have to patient, stay focused, get better every single day. When the time comes, I’ll be more than ready.”
Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) is scheduled to face one of those second-tier opponents, Roiman Villa, on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey (Showtime). And, of course, he must win to even think about taking part in a major event.
That might not be easy. Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) is a solid boxer with elite punching power, although he earned the meeting with Ennis by outpointing his toughest opponents in his last two fights, previously unbeaten contenders Janelson Bocachica and Rashidi Ellis.
Ennis compared Villa to a previous opponent of his, Sergey Lipinets, a clever, rugged boxer. Ennis stopped Lipinets in six rounds.
One more thing about Villa: Ennis won’t have to chase him down when the opening bell rings, as he did against the capable, but reluctant Karen Chukhadzhian. The Ukrainian survived but lost every round, which snapped Ennis’ knockout streak at 19 (not counting a no-contest).
Ennis would like to start a new streak on Saturday.
“He’ll be right there in front of me,” Ennis said of Villa. “He’s not going to be moving, he’s not going to run. That’s perfect for me. He’s like Lipinets a little bit, although I feel Lipinets is a lot craftier. …
“[A knockout) is the goal. I want to look good, be sharp, beat him up, get that stoppage.”
Then the 26-year-old would go back to waiting.
Of course, a meeting with the winner of the July 29 Crawford-Spence fight for the undisputed championship would be boxing’s equivalent of winning the lottery but there’s no telling what might follow that bout.
A lucrative rematch would make sense if the original is competitive, as it’s expected to be. Or the winner could move up to 154 pounds, which would create vacancies and all kinds of possibilities.
Ennis can only watch with the rest of us to see how it all plays out, assuming things go well for him in Atlantic City.
“I don’t know when I’ll get that shot,” he said. “Hopefully when they do fight each other, Crawford and Spence, hopefully there’ll be no rematch clause. [But] I probably won’t get a title shot until next year.
“May main focus is Villa right now. I’m locked in on him.”
Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa: date, time, how to watch, background.
Gifted Jaron Ennis will take on fellow welterweight contender Roiman Villa on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
JARON ENNIS (30-0, 27 KOs)
VS. ROIMAN VILLA (26-1, 24 KOs)
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ennis 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno, lightweights; Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor, junior middleweights
Prediction: Ennis KO 8
Background: The gifted Ennis is a pound-for-pound star in the making, in the opinion of many observers. He’s just waiting for his big opportunity. In the meantime he must get past solid opponents like Villa. Ennis reminds some of Roy Jones Jr., with a combination of speed and punching power that is off the charts. Ennis saw a knockout streak end at 19 fights (not counting a no-contest) in his most recent outing, a shutout decision over clever, but survival-minded Karen Chukhadzhian in January. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia believes he’s ready to take on the best in the division – including the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner – but he has no time table. He said he’ll be ready when the time comes. Villa is known primarily as a big puncher but he’s a good all-around fighter, as he proved by putting previously unbeaten contender Rashidi Ellis down twice in the final round and winning a majority decision in January. The break-through victory earned him a chance to face Ennis in the main event of nationally televised card, which is a major step for any fighter. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing a split decision to Marcos Villasana at 135 pounds in 2019, after which he moved up in weight.
Jaron Ennis vs. Roiman Villa: date, time, how to watch, background.
Gifted Jaron Ennis will take on fellow welterweight contender Roiman Villa on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
JARON ENNIS (30-0, 27 KOs)
VS. ROIMAN VILLA (26-1, 24 KOs)
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ennis 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno, lightweights; Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor, junior middleweights
Prediction: Ennis KO 8
Background: The gifted Ennis is a pound-for-pound star in the making, in the opinion of many observers. He’s just waiting for his big opportunity. In the meantime he must get past solid opponents like Villa. Ennis reminds some of Roy Jones Jr., with a combination of speed and punching power that is off the charts. Ennis saw a knockout streak end at 19 fights (not counting a no-contest) in his most recent outing, a shutout decision over clever, but survival-minded Karen Chukhadzhian in January. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia believes he’s ready to take on the best in the division – including the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner – but he has no time table. He said he’ll be ready when the time comes. Villa is known primarily as a big puncher but he’s a good all-around fighter, as he proved by putting previously unbeaten contender Rashidi Ellis down twice in the final round and winning a majority decision in January. The break-through victory earned him a chance to face Ennis in the main event of nationally televised card, which is a major step for any fighter. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing a split decision to Marcos Villasana at 135 pounds in 2019, after which he moved up in weight.
Roiman Villa expects to surprise the boxing world again when he faces highly regarded Jaron Ennis on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Roiman Villa is a big believer of perseverance. Why not? It has served him well.
The 30-year-old welterweight contender was behind on all three scorecards against Rashidi Ellis going into the 12th and final round when he put Ellis down twice to pull out a majority decision victory in January.
The break-through win over a notable foe set up an even bigger fight: He is scheduled to face Jaron Ennis on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“You gotta keep pushing, especially against the more tactical, savvy finesse fighters,” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “If you let them dance around, it will drive you crazy. If you keep pressing, really go after them, you’ll break through at some point.
“That was thrilling,” he added, referring to the pivotal 12th round. “It’s in the past, though. I’m focused now on the opportunity coming up.”
That would his meeting with Ennis, one of the most-feared up-and-coming fighters regardless of division.
Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) understands that Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) brings more to the table than Ellis did, most notably his ability to end any fight in an instant. And the Venezuelan will be fighting on the biggest stage of his career, in the main event on Showtime.
If Villa is fazed, he certainly doesn’t show it.
He was the underdog in his last two fights, against Janelson Bocachica in September and Ellis four months later. He easily outpointed Bocachica in an eight-rounder before delivering the late rally against Ellis.
Besides, while he has never faced anyone like Ennis, Villa, also a big puncher, believes he will be Ennis’ toughest challenge. He added that he doesn’t pay much attention to opponents, even this one.
And the nationwide audience? His focus is setting himself up to win, nothing else.
“I think I’m a different opponent than anyone he’s seen,” Villa said. “I really haven’t seen any of his fights, just a few videos. I don’t like to focus on my opponent; I like to focus on myself. No matter who it is I have to go out there and show something he hasn’t seen yet.”
And he doesn’t care what people say or think.
“People can say what they want,” he said. “I know I can prove people wrong once again. … I have to take it step by step. And hopefully I can keep going up the ladder and reach the top. … Look at Manny Pacquiao. People used to think that he was going to lose when he came out and he built a reputation as one of the greatest ever. …
“He’s kind of an inspiration to me. That’s how it goes for most anybody. One day you may get noticed, the other you can be a star.”
Roiman Villa expects to surprise the boxing world again when he faces highly regarded Jaron Ennis on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Roiman Villa is a big believer of perseverance. Why not? It has served him well.
The 30-year-old welterweight contender was behind on all three scorecards against Rashidi Ellis going into the 12th and final round when he put Ellis down twice to pull out a majority decision victory in January.
The break-through win over a notable foe set up an even bigger fight: He is scheduled to face Jaron Ennis on Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“You gotta keep pushing, especially against the more tactical, savvy finesse fighters,” he told Boxing Junkie through a translator. “If you let them dance around, it will drive you crazy. If you keep pressing, really go after them, you’ll break through at some point.
“That was thrilling,” he added, referring to the pivotal 12th round. “It’s in the past, though. I’m focused now on the opportunity coming up.”
That would his meeting with Ennis, one of the most-feared up-and-coming fighters regardless of division.
Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) understands that Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) brings more to the table than Ellis did, most notably his ability to end any fight in an instant. And the Venezuelan will be fighting on the biggest stage of his career, in the main event on Showtime.
If Villa is fazed, he certainly doesn’t show it.
He was the underdog in his last two fights, against Janelson Bocachica in September and Ellis four months later. He easily outpointed Bocachica in an eight-rounder before delivering the late rally against Ellis.
Besides, while he has never faced anyone like Ennis, Villa, also a big puncher, believes he will be Ennis’ toughest challenge. He added that he doesn’t pay much attention to opponents, even this one.
And the nationwide audience? His focus is setting himself up to win, nothing else.
“I think I’m a different opponent than anyone he’s seen,” Villa said. “I really haven’t seen any of his fights, just a few videos. I don’t like to focus on my opponent; I like to focus on myself. No matter who it is I have to go out there and show something he hasn’t seen yet.”
And he doesn’t care what people say or think.
“People can say what they want,” he said. “I know I can prove people wrong once again. … I have to take it step by step. And hopefully I can keep going up the ladder and reach the top. … Look at Manny Pacquiao. People used to think that he was going to lose when he came out and he built a reputation as one of the greatest ever. …
“He’s kind of an inspiration to me. That’s how it goes for most anybody. One day you may get noticed, the other you can be a star.”
Odds: Oritz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Marlen Esparza vs. Gabriela Alaniz, flyweights (for Esparaza’s WBA and WBC titles); Floyd Schofield vs. Haskell Rhodes, lightweights; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jerry Perez, lightweights
Prediction: Ortiz UD
Background: Ortiz and Stanionis will face their toughest tests to date when they meet Saturday in San Antonio. Ortiz, a hard-punching 25-year-old from Dallas, has stopped all 19 of his opponents but has struggled to lure top welterweights into the ring until now. And he hasn’t been particularly active because of health issues, having entered the ring only four times since 2019. He last fought this past August, stopping previously unbeaten Michael McKinson in nine rounds. Ortiz told Boxing Junkie that he’s 100% healthy for the first time in years. Stanionis is a well-schooled, rugged 28-year-old from Lithuania. He competed in the 2016 Olympics, getting eliminated in the second round. He also has been perfect as a professional, although he has relied more on his ability and resilience than his punching power. He’s coming off a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year. That means he will have been out of the ring for almost 15 months. The fight on Saturday is for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
JARON ENNIS (30-0, 27 KOs)
VS. ROIMAN VILLA (26-1, 24 KOs)
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ennis 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno, lightweights; Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor, junior middleweights
Prediction: Ennis KO 8
Background: The gifted Ennis is a pound-for-pound star in the making, in the opinion of many observers. He’s just waiting for his big opportunity. In the meantime he must get past solid opponents like Villa. Ennis reminds some of Roy Jones Jr., with a combination of speed and punching power that is off the charts. Ennis saw a knockout streak end at 19 fights (not counting a no-contest) in his most recent outing, a shutout decision over clever, but survival-minded Karen Chukhadzhian in January. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia believes he’s ready to take on the best in the division – including the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner – but he has no time table. He said he’ll be ready when the time comes. Villa is known primarily as a big puncher but he’s a good all-around fighter, as he proved by putting previously unbeaten contender Rashidi Ellis down twice in the final round and winning a majority decision in January. The break-through victory earned him a chance to face Ennis in the main event of nationally televised card, which is a major step for any fighter. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing a split decision to Marcos Villasana at 135 pounds in 2019, after which he moved up in weight.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Diego Pacheco vs. Manuel Gallegos, super middleweights, Monterrey, Mexico (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Luis Nery vs. Froilan Saludar, junior featherweights, Metepec, Mexico (ESPN+)
Odds: Oritz 4-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Marlen Esparza vs. Gabriela Alaniz, flyweights (for Esparaza’s WBA and WBC titles); Floyd Schofield vs. Haskell Rhodes, lightweights; Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Jerry Perez, lightweights
Prediction: Ortiz UD
Background: Ortiz and Stanionis will face their toughest tests to date when they meet Saturday in San Antonio. Ortiz, a hard-punching 25-year-old from Dallas, has stopped all 19 of his opponents but has struggled to lure top welterweights into the ring until now. And he hasn’t been particularly active because of health issues, having entered the ring only four times since 2019. He last fought this past August, stopping previously unbeaten Michael McKinson in nine rounds. Ortiz told Boxing Junkie that he’s 100% healthy for the first time in years. Stanionis is a well-schooled, rugged 28-year-old from Lithuania. He competed in the 2016 Olympics, getting eliminated in the second round. He also has been perfect as a professional, although he has relied more on his ability and resilience than his punching power. He’s coming off a hard-fought split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Radzhab Butaev in April of last year. That means he will have been out of the ring for almost 15 months. The fight on Saturday is for the WBA’s secondary “world” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.
JARON ENNIS (30-0, 27 KOs)
VS. ROIMAN VILLA (26-1, 24 KOs)
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Odds: Ennis 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Edwin De Los Santos vs. Joseph Adorno, lightweights; Yoelvis Gomez vs. Marquis Taylor, junior middleweights
Prediction: Ennis KO 8
Background: The gifted Ennis is a pound-for-pound star in the making, in the opinion of many observers. He’s just waiting for his big opportunity. In the meantime he must get past solid opponents like Villa. Ennis reminds some of Roy Jones Jr., with a combination of speed and punching power that is off the charts. Ennis saw a knockout streak end at 19 fights (not counting a no-contest) in his most recent outing, a shutout decision over clever, but survival-minded Karen Chukhadzhian in January. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia believes he’s ready to take on the best in the division – including the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jr. winner – but he has no time table. He said he’ll be ready when the time comes. Villa is known primarily as a big puncher but he’s a good all-around fighter, as he proved by putting previously unbeaten contender Rashidi Ellis down twice in the final round and winning a majority decision in January. The break-through victory earned him a chance to face Ennis in the main event of nationally televised card, which is a major step for any fighter. He has won seven consecutive fights since losing a split decision to Marcos Villasana at 135 pounds in 2019, after which he moved up in weight.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Diego Pacheco vs. Manuel Gallegos, super middleweights, Monterrey, Mexico (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Luis Nery vs. Froilan Saludar, junior featherweights, Metepec, Mexico (ESPN+)
Is Shakur Stevenson next pound-for-pound king? Here are 5 candidates to claim that title.
Shakur Stevenson is a rare talent.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist, who will face Shuichiro Yoshino on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, is one of a handful of unusually talented fighters who could one day supplant today’s biggest stars as the pound-for-pound king.
Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) isn’t a knockout artist but he has been as dominating as anyone in his own way. It seems that no active fighter is better at hitting and not getting hit, which is the name of the game.
The Newark native leads all boxers in CompuBox’s plus-minus category, the percentage of punches he lands vs. those he takes. He’s +18.6, well ahead of No. 2 David Benavidez (+17.6).
And he’s as elusive as anyone. Opponents land only 13.8% of the punches thrown at him, which is second only to Dmitry Bivol (12.7%).
Of course, the CompuBox numbers aren’t official statistics. At the same time they give you an good idea of Stevenson’s elite ability, which is rivaled only by a precious few of his peers.
Here are five special fighters who could end up No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list within the next few years.
Thumbs up: Stevenson might have the most impressive combination of skills and natural gifts, meaning speed, reflexes and athleticism. He’s one of those once-in-a-generation fighters who is beautiful to watch, like Vasiliy Lomachenko in his prime. The southpaw controls distance with excellent footwork and a stiff jab, which allows him to pick apart his foes. And, again, his defensive skills are special. He’s not a knockout artist but his power punches are sharp and eye-catching. You get the idea. He might be the best boxer in the world and only getting better. Plus, he might have the best resume among the fighters mentioned here. His one-sided victories over Jamel Herring (TKO 10) and Oscar Valdez (UD) were genuine tests that he passed with flying colors.
Thumbs down: He generally won’t change a fight with one shot. A fighter doesn’t have to punch like Deontay Wilder to reach the highest levels of the sport, as Floyd Mayweather proved in his Hall of Fame career. But who even approaches Mayweather’s ability level.? Stevenson might turn out to be the best overall fighter of his generation but he’ll get there in spite of his lack of high-end punching power, not because of it.
Thumbs up: “Tank” seems to be a complete fighter. He has elite natural gifts, including speed and a rock-solid chin. He’s a top-tier all-around boxer, including underappreciated defensive skills. And he’s one of the biggest punchers in the sport pound-for-pound, as his 93% knockout rate indicates. If you fight him, you almost certainly will be hurt at some point in the bout. His demeanor also is impressive. He calmly, cooly and with unwavering confidence goes about his business of outboxing, breaking down and ultimately stopping his opponents. A good example of that was his fight with Isaac Cruz. He injured his left (lead) hand mid-way through a tough fight but persevered and won a decision. I ask you: Can you find a flaw?
Thumbs down: Who has Davis beaten? His most-accomplished opponent was Leo Santa Cruz but Santa Cruz moved up in weight to face him. Beyond Santa Cruz have been a number of good foes – Cruz, Mario Barrios, Rolando Romero, Hector Luis Garcia – but no one near pound-for-pound status. We’ll learn a little more about Davis when he faces talented Ryan Garcia on April 22 but we want to see him against a next-level fighter, the Stevensons, Lomachenkos and Devin Haney’s of the world. Also, Cruz’s constant pressure gave Davis problems. Could that be the way to beat him? Or does a healthy left hand make that a bad strategy?
Thumbs up: Ennis is a well-schooled boxer but his God-given tools are what stand out: He might be the most gifted fighter in the world. His speed, reflexes and one-punch knockout power are reminiscent of a prime Roy Jones Jr., which is the ultimate compliment. Opponents might be capable and have a solid strategy but they generally can’t cope with Ennis’ otherworldly quickness and ability to hurt them with any punch that lands. The power? He had stopped 19 consecutive opponents (not counting a no-contest) until a slick Karen Chukhadzhian took him the distance in January. Sixteen of Ennis’ stoppages have come in less than two rounds, 11 in one. Watching Ennis fight is often breathtaking, which can’t be said of many of his peers.
Thumbs down: Ennis has yet to face a genuine test. He has fought some quality opponents – including veterans Sergey Lipinets and Thomas Dulorme – but we won’t know how good he truly is until he faces an elite foe. That doesn’t necessarily have to be Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr. right away. Someone like Keith Thurman, Vergil Ortiz or Yordenis Ugas would give us a better idea of where Ennis stands. Also, he looked human for the first time against Chukhadzhian. However, that had as much to do with the loser’s reluctance to engage than any deficiency on Ennis’ part. And Ennis still won by a near-shutout decision.
Thumbs up: Haney has a lot in common with Stevenson. He was an amateur standout, which gave him a strong fundamental foundation. He has a high ring IQ, which allows him to adapt to whatever is thrown at him. And God was good to him, too. He’s quick, moves well and has cat-like reflexes. He also has strong plus-minus and opponent connect rate numbers, +12.3 (No. 8 in the sport) and 19.6% (No. 7). On top of that he has a resume that rivals that of Stevenson. He outclassed former titleholders Jorge Linares and Joseph Diaz Jr., which was impressive enough. He then easily outpointed George Kambosos Jr. to become undisputed 135-pound champion in Australia, Kambosos’ home country. He was only 23. And he won the rematch, also in Australia, by a wider margin four months later.
Thumbs down: Haney also shares a problem with Stevenson, if that’s what it is: His hands aren’t particularly heavy. He relies more on his unusual skill set than his ability to hurt his opponents, which is reflected in a so-so knockout rate. Also, while he’s building a solid resume, some fans want to see him face a next-level opponent before designating Haney the next great thing. That comes on May 20, which he defends his titles against Lomachenko.
Thumbs up: Benavidez is different from the rest here. He relies more on relentless pressure and heavy punches than technique to break down and generally stop his opponents. He’s one of the most destructive offensive forces in the sport, as he demonstrated once again by chasing down and ultimately dominating former titleholder Caleb Plant in his biggest victory last month. That’s why Mike Tyson has dubbed him the, “Mexican Monster.” His boxing ability shouldn’t be underestimated, though. There’s method to his madness. He’s the most accurate puncher in the sport, connecting at 38.4% going into the Plant fight. He landed at 38.1% in that bout. And, again, he’s No. 2 on the plus-minus list, ahead of such stars as Lomachenko, Bivol, Davis and Noaya Inoue. Bottom line: Benavidez a terrific all-around fighter.
Thumbs down: The unanimous decision victory over Plant was a significant accomplishment but Benavidez doesn’t have a deep resume. It might take a meeting with the likes of Jermall Charlo or Canelo Alvarez to leave no doubt that he belongs among the best in the business. The question is: Will the biggest names want to tangle with this beast?
Is Shakur Stevenson next pound-for-pound king? Here are 5 candidates to claim that title.
Shakur Stevenson is a rare talent.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist, who will face Shuichiro Yoshino on Saturday night in Newark, New Jersey, is one of a handful of unusually talented fighters who could one day supplant today’s biggest stars as the pound-for-pound king.
Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) isn’t a knockout artist but he has been as dominating as anyone in his own way. It seems that no active fighter is better at hitting and not getting hit, which is the name of the game.
The Newark native leads all boxers in CompuBox’s plus-minus category, the percentage of punches he lands vs. those he takes. He’s +18.6, well ahead of No. 2 David Benavidez (+17.6).
And he’s as elusive as anyone. Opponents land only 13.8% of the punches thrown at him, which is second only to Dmitry Bivol (12.7%).
Of course, the CompuBox numbers aren’t official statistics. At the same time they give you an good idea of Stevenson’s elite ability, which is rivaled only by a precious few of his peers.
Here are five special fighters who could end up No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list within the next few years.
Thumbs up: Stevenson might have the most impressive combination of skills and natural gifts, meaning speed, reflexes and athleticism. He’s one of those once-in-a-generation fighters who is beautiful to watch, like Vasiliy Lomachenko in his prime. The southpaw controls distance with excellent footwork and a stiff jab, which allows him to pick apart his foes. And, again, his defensive skills are special. He’s not a knockout artist but his power punches are sharp and eye-catching. You get the idea. He might be the best boxer in the world and only getting better. Plus, he might have the best resume among the fighters mentioned here. His one-sided victories over Jamel Herring (TKO 10) and Oscar Valdez (UD) were genuine tests that he passed with flying colors.
Thumbs down: He generally won’t change a fight with one shot. A fighter doesn’t have to punch like Deontay Wilder to reach the highest levels of the sport, as Floyd Mayweather proved in his Hall of Fame career. But who even approaches Mayweather’s ability level.? Stevenson might turn out to be the best overall fighter of his generation but he’ll get there in spite of his lack of high-end punching power, not because of it.
Thumbs up: “Tank” seems to be a complete fighter. He has elite natural gifts, including speed and a rock-solid chin. He’s a top-tier all-around boxer, including underappreciated defensive skills. And he’s one of the biggest punchers in the sport pound-for-pound, as his 93% knockout rate indicates. If you fight him, you almost certainly will be hurt at some point in the bout. His demeanor also is impressive. He calmly, cooly and with unwavering confidence goes about his business of outboxing, breaking down and ultimately stopping his opponents. A good example of that was his fight with Isaac Cruz. He injured his left (lead) hand mid-way through a tough fight but persevered and won a decision. I ask you: Can you find a flaw?
Thumbs down: Who has Davis beaten? His most-accomplished opponent was Leo Santa Cruz but Santa Cruz moved up in weight to face him. Beyond Santa Cruz have been a number of good foes – Cruz, Mario Barrios, Rolando Romero, Hector Luis Garcia – but no one near pound-for-pound status. We’ll learn a little more about Davis when he faces talented Ryan Garcia on April 22 but we want to see him against a next-level fighter, the Stevensons, Lomachenkos and Devin Haney’s of the world. Also, Cruz’s constant pressure gave Davis problems. Could that be the way to beat him? Or does a healthy left hand make that a bad strategy?
Thumbs up: Ennis is a well-schooled boxer but his God-given tools are what stand out: He might be the most gifted fighter in the world. His speed, reflexes and one-punch knockout power are reminiscent of a prime Roy Jones Jr., which is the ultimate compliment. Opponents might be capable and have a solid strategy but they generally can’t cope with Ennis’ otherworldly quickness and ability to hurt them with any punch that lands. The power? He had stopped 19 consecutive opponents (not counting a no-contest) until a slick Karen Chukhadzhian took him the distance in January. Sixteen of Ennis’ stoppages have come in less than two rounds, 11 in one. Watching Ennis fight is often breathtaking, which can’t be said of many of his peers.
Thumbs down: Ennis has yet to face a genuine test. He has fought some quality opponents – including veterans Sergey Lipinets and Thomas Dulorme – but we won’t know how good he truly is until he faces an elite foe. That doesn’t necessarily have to be Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr. right away. Someone like Keith Thurman, Vergil Ortiz or Yordenis Ugas would give us a better idea of where Ennis stands. Also, he looked human for the first time against Chukhadzhian. However, that had as much to do with the loser’s reluctance to engage than any deficiency on Ennis’ part. And Ennis still won by a near-shutout decision.
Thumbs up: Haney has a lot in common with Stevenson. He was an amateur standout, which gave him a strong fundamental foundation. He has a high ring IQ, which allows him to adapt to whatever is thrown at him. And God was good to him, too. He’s quick, moves well and has cat-like reflexes. He also has strong plus-minus and opponent connect rate numbers, +12.3 (No. 8 in the sport) and 19.6% (No. 7). On top of that he has a resume that rivals that of Stevenson. He outclassed former titleholders Jorge Linares and Joseph Diaz Jr., which was impressive enough. He then easily outpointed George Kambosos Jr. to become undisputed 135-pound champion in Australia, Kambosos’ home country. He was only 23. And he won the rematch, also in Australia, by a wider margin four months later.
Thumbs down: Haney also shares a problem with Stevenson, if that’s what it is: His hands aren’t particularly heavy. He relies more on his unusual skill set than his ability to hurt his opponents, which is reflected in a so-so knockout rate. Also, while he’s building a solid resume, some fans want to see him face a next-level opponent before designating Haney the next great thing. That comes on May 20, which he defends his titles against Lomachenko.
Thumbs up: Benavidez is different from the rest here. He relies more on relentless pressure and heavy punches than technique to break down and generally stop his opponents. He’s one of the most destructive offensive forces in the sport, as he demonstrated once again by chasing down and ultimately dominating former titleholder Caleb Plant in his biggest victory last month. That’s why Mike Tyson has dubbed him the, “Mexican Monster.” His boxing ability shouldn’t be underestimated, though. There’s method to his madness. He’s the most accurate puncher in the sport, connecting at 38.4% going into the Plant fight. He landed at 38.1% in that bout. And, again, he’s No. 2 on the plus-minus list, ahead of such stars as Lomachenko, Bivol, Davis and Noaya Inoue. Bottom line: Benavidez a terrific all-around fighter.
Thumbs down: The unanimous decision victory over Plant was a significant accomplishment but Benavidez doesn’t have a deep resume. It might take a meeting with the likes of Jermall Charlo or Canelo Alvarez to leave no doubt that he belongs among the best in the business. The question is: Will the biggest names want to tangle with this beast?
Weekend Review: Gervonta Davis delivered once again against Hector Luis Garcia after a difficult training camp.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Gervonta Davis – “Tank” needed a win after a difficult training camp. And he delivered a beauty, forcing previously unbeaten Hector Luis Garcia to quit on his stool after eight rounds of a scheduled 12-round 135-pound fight Saturday in Washington, D.C. The hard-punching lightweight contender landed more and more damaging punches as the fight progressed until his capable opponent could take no more, Davis’ 18th knockout in his last 19 fights. And now he appears set for the biggest fight in his career, a showdown with fellow social media star Ryan Garcia this spring. Things couldn’t be better inside the ring. Outside it? Well, Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) was arrested and briefly jailed on allegations he struck the mother of his daughter on Dec. 27, accusations the woman later recanted. Still, he knows he has to watch himself. “I have to bring my people in close and listen to my close ones, listen to [manager] Al Haymon and just stay focused,” he said. If he can, the 28-year-old from Baltimore could end up as the face of the sport.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Roiman Villa – Slick Rashidi Ellis appeared to be on his way to a one-sided victory over his game, but limited opponent halfway through their welterweight bout on the Davis-Garcia card. Then Villa (26-1, 24 KOs) demonstrated that anything is possible if you persevere. The undeterrable slugger, upping his pressure on Ellis, began to land hard punches around the seventh round and turned the tide in dramatic fashion as a result to pull out a stunning majority-decision victory. And he saved his best for last, putting Ellis down twice in a memorable 12th and final round. That proved to the difference on the cards. One judge scored it a 113-113 draw but the other two gave Villa the nod by the same score, 114-112. Villa was among the few who weren’t surprised. “I know that fighters such as him who are quick sooner or later will get a little tired,” he said, “and that’s what I took advantage of.” Thus, he went from relative unknown to a player in one of the sport’s glamour divisions over night.
BIGGEST LOSER
Hector Garcia – Garcia (16-1, 10 KOs) was a longshot against Davis for a reason. Not only was he face to face with one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound but he had moved up in weight for the privilege, which made his mission nearly impossible. Still, the setback had to be difficult for the Dominican swallow. He entered the ring with tremendous momentum after upsetting Chris Colbert and defeating Roger Gutierrez to win a 130-pound title last year, with made him a Fighter of the Year candidate. Then it was over in an instant. Davis hurt him with a left to the side of the head late in Round 8, after which he complained as he sat on his stool that he couldn’t see. And that’s where he stayed, becoming just another victim on Davis’ growing list. Garcia will probably go back down to 130, where he could defend his title and face opponents with whom he could actually compete.
BIGGEST LOSER II
Rashidi Ellis – Ellis (24-1, 15 KOs) had everything going for him. He has natural gifts and refined skills, which seemed to be leading him toward a fight for one 147-pound title or another in the near future. And then Villa changed his trajectory. Ellis said afterward that he thought he had done enough to earn the victory. And he might’ve been right. I scored it 114-112 in his favor. However, the judges saw it differently and suddenly he had the first loss in his career. Where does he go from here? One, he needs to figure out what he could’ve done differently in the second half of the fight to prevent that from happening again. And, two, he should follow through on his desire to face Villa again if it’s possible. There’s no better way to make people forget about a disappointing setback than avenging it. And he’s capable of doing that.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian: Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs) was a victim of his own lofty standards against Karen Chukhadzhian (21-2, 11 KOs) on the Davis-Garcia card. The welterweight contender had stopped his previous 19 opponents, the kind of streak that leads you to assume that you’ll see a spectacular stoppage every time he fights. That didn’t happen on Saturday. Most of the blame falls on Chukhadzhian, who was more interested in surviving than taking the risks necessary to win the fight. And when a fighter as skillful and athletic as he is decides to survive, it’s extremely difficult for anyone to stop him. Ennis also is to blame. It’s part of his job to find a way to cut off the ring if his opponent runs; he couldn’t do that, which gives him something to work on in the gym. All that said, Ennis deserves credit: He won every round on all three cards. That’s a terrific night by normal standards.
MOST PREDICTABLE
Demetrius Andrade’s victory: New manager, new division, same result. Andrade, who is now handled by Premiere Boxing Champions, demonstrated in a shutout decision over Demond Nicholson (26-5-1, 22 KOs) in his 168-pound debut on the Davis-Garcia card that he still has it at 34-year-old and can be a factor at super middleweight. If there was a flaw in his performance it was that he couldn’t stop an opponent he dominated even though Nicholson engaged him enough for him to do so. However, that’s par for the course for Andrade, who typically starts quickly and then cruises to a wide decision victory. That formula isn’t exciting but it’s effective. Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) is thought of as one of the most avoided elite boxers. I can’t imagine any of the top 168-pounders is going to be in a hurry to face him after his performance on Saturday night.
