Jaron Ennis moved a step closer to a world title shot, as he successfully defended his interim IBF welterweight title with a tenth round knockout of Roiman Villa at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.
Ennis has built a reputation as a big puncher, and won the interim belt in his last contest, a wide points win against Karen Chukhadzhian. Villa came in as a live underdog, coming off a majority decision upset win over Rashidi Ellis in January.
Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) was utterly dominant in this one. The 26-year-old started with authority, jabbing almost at will.
Villa’s nose was bloody by the second round, due to the accuracy of the jab from the Philadelphian, although he did have a solid fourth round, where he had moments of success, punishing any mistake from ‘Boots’.
After hurting the Venezuelan in the sixth, Ennis appeared to take his time, as rounds seven to nine saw him take his foot off the gas, while still peppering Villa (26-2, 24 KOs), but he decided to close the show in the tenth.
THE BOOGEYMAN DOES IT AGAIN 😈@JaronEnnis KOs Villa in round 10 to move to 31-0 ⭐#EnnisVilla pic.twitter.com/cIiuRPbUL5
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) July 9, 2023
A left hand followed by a right hook put the visitor down, and as he collapsed towards the ropes, the referee waved the contest off, handing the 30-year-old just a second professional defeat and first by stoppage.
Ennis called for the winner of the July 29 undisputed welterweight clash between Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford, as well as WBA ‘regular’ world champion, Eimantas Stanionis, who saw his scheduled showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr on Saturday cancelled due to a health issue for Ortiz Jr.
Santos overcomes Adorno
Edwin De Los Santos retained his WBC Continental Americas lightweight title, dominating Joseph Adorno (17-3-2, 14 KOs) in a ten round decision victory.
De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) took a wide win by scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91 and was called out by unbeaten American, Keyshawn Davis on social media.
Give me Edwin. I got something to prove.💯
— Keyshawn Davis (@KeyshawnDavis8) July 9, 2023
Taylor stuns Gomez
On the undercard, Yoelvis Gomez was upset over ten rounds at middleweight against Marquis Taylor.
Gomez (6-1, 5 KOs) was dropped in the second round, and Taylor (15-1-2, 1 KO) went on to take a points win by two scores of 99-90, and a third at 96-93.
Remaining Undercard
At middleweight, Euri Cedeno (5-0, 5 KOs) halted William Townsel (5-1, 4 KOs) inside a round, and heavyweight hope Steven Torres (6-0-1, 6 KOs) stopped James Evans (6-1-1, 6 KOs) in their rematch, in three rounds.
At super welterweight, Dwyke Flemmings Jr (4-0, 4 KOs) took a third round win against the previously undefeated, Henry Rivera (2-1, 1 KO) and Ismail Muhammad (2-0, 2 KOs) won in the same round at welterweight against Parker Gregory Bruno (0-2).
