Atlantic City, NJ—-Jaron “Boots” Ennis remained undefeated with a 10th-round KO of Roiman Villa on Saturday in a welterweight fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey at the Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Theater.
Ennis (31-0, 18KOs) dominated in terms of CompuBox stats, with a remarkable 164 to 57 advantage in power shots, reaffirming his intention to stay in action against the top names in the welterweight division.
“Boots” lightning quick hands and thunderous body shots planted Villa on the canvas and he never really recovered after that.
Referee David Fields quickly waved off the PBC on Showtime headliner without a count nearly halfway through Round 10 to end the one-sided beat down.
“I’m getting better,” said Ennis, ESPN’s No. 4 boxer at 147 pounds. ” We got to wait for Errol Spence and Bud Terence Crawford to fight and you know I want the winner of that.”
The 30-year-Venezuelan was overmatched but proved to be tough opponent. Villa (26-2, 24 KOs) entered the ring on the cusp of a career-best win, a majority decision over Rashidi Ellis in January when he scored two knockdowns.
Villa, ESPN’s No. 10 welterweight, had never hit the canvas in his pro career but Ennis’ flurry of punches eventually took their toll on his body.
Ennis handled Villa like a sparing partner, doling out punishment from the opening bell. Ennis, 26, was extended past Round 7 for just the second time in his pro career but was able to show off his arsenal of punches.
A fight with the winner of the July 29 undisputed welterweight championship fight would highlight the sort of marquee opponent Ennis has been looking for. Ennis also expressed interest in fighting Eimantas Stanionis, who was slated to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Saturday in a battle of top-5 welterweights (in ESPN’s rankings).
The Philadelphian mixed in lightning quick right hooks off his southpaw jab and made Villa look bad at times by slipping his wide shots. By the end of Round 2, Villa’s nose was bleeding, but he never stopped charging forward.
Ennis appeared to hurt Villa again in Round 7 with a left uppercut, a punch he used to inflict damage over the duration of the fight. Over nine-and-a-half rounds, Ennis connected on 227 punches while Villa landed just 65. But in the 7th Villa was visibly done and worn out.
