Jaron Ennis is striving to take control of the IBF Welterweight Division. According to trainer Stephen Edwards, Eimantas Stanionis may provide Ennis with his most formidable opponent despite no official discussion regarding an encounter between them; indeed Stanionis himself seems eager for that chance!
Edwards was asked in an interview with YSM Sports Media to assess the threat level posed by Brian Norman Jr. (interim WBO Welterweight Champion), Mario Barrios (WBC Welterweight Champion), Stanionis, and Ennis as potential opponents for him in 2019. Edwards seemed inclined to favor Stanionis as being most significantly challenging against Ennis.
Stephen Edwards Praises Eimantas Stanionis
Edwards positioned Stanionis as the most considerable danger to Ennis, mentioning that Norman Jr. is somewhat inexperienced and still maturing, whereas he views “Boots” (Ennis) as being more advanced at this stage. He also commented on Stanionis’ intelligence and physicality, implying that these qualities might help him match up well with Ennis in terms of strength. Additionally, Edwards pointed out the benefits of Stanionis training under Ronnie Shields, highlighting the fighter’s robustness and reputable chin.
Despite Edwards’ commendation for Stanionis, the feedback from fans watching the interview hinted at a different preference for Ennis’ career path.
Fan Consensus: Ennis Should Move to 154 Pounds
Ennis has previously mentioned moving up to 154 pounds, but fans expressed their desire more vocally after the interview, preferring him to pursue fights in a higher weight class rather than facing Stanionis at 147 pounds. Some comments openly criticized the narrative around an Ennis-Stanionis fight at 147 pounds, urging Ennis to step up to 154 pounds instead.
Another segment of fans labeled Team Ennis as avoiding significant challenges by not moving up in weight, despite earlier claims that Vergil Ortiz Jr. had dodged a fight with Ennis, which was later clarified as a misunderstanding.
While some users recognized Stanionis as a strong competitor, others pointed out his relative inactivity compared to Ennis at this stage and suggested he may not represent much of an opponent at present.
Stephen Edwards may be pushing Jaron Ennis against Eimantas Stanionis as part of their promotion strategy, yet fan reactions indicate they want Ennis to explore opportunities in different weight classes. There remain varied opinions as to the best course for him in his promising career path.