Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KO’s) seems to have found his tune-up opponent in the lead-up to a potential bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KO’s) next year.
Set to make his debut at super welterweight (154 lbs), Ennis will be facing 32-year old Angolan fighter Uisma Lima (14-1, 10 KO’s) who currently holds the IBO 154-pound title. Their fight ― which will be headlining on a Matchroom card ― has been scheduled for October 11 at the Wells Fargo Center in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia, based in the state of Pennsylvania.
The fight has further been confirmed as a WBA final eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger at 154 lbs. Despite the opportunity to face the current WBA champion, Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO’s), an actual match appears unlikely for the near future with Crawford set to challenge undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13.
Further preventing the Ennis-Lima winner from a direct title opportunity is WBA interim champion Yoenis Tellez (10-0, 7 KO’s) from Cuba who faces every chance of being promoted to full champion were Crawford to vacate his title following his fight with Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KO’s). However, Tellez too needs to win his upcoming match against German contender Anass Baraou (16-1, 9 KO’s) this Saturday on August 23 to retain his interim title and remain in the picture of potentially being elevated to world champion.
Either way, Jaron Ennis is not to expected to face much difficulties against Uisma Lima who despite his grasp over the IBO title has had a largely quiet career. The Angolan fighter did impress in his last run following his first career defeat to Irish middleweight (160 lbs) contender Aaron Mckenna (20-0, 10 KO’s) in 2023, racking up four wins ― with three of opponents that Lima defeated having been unbeaten.
The decision by Ennis to face Lima further confirms Turki Alalshikh’s claims of Ennis seeking a tune-up fight on a Riyadh Season or The Ring card, though Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn has hinted at Vergil Ortiz Jr. being up next for the Philadelphian native.
Lima’s doubtful position as a worthy competitor for Jaron Ennis is further contrasted by recent rumors of Ortiz possibly facing fellow American Erickson Lubin (27-2, 19 KO’s) who has been regarded as a top 10 super welterweight contender for several years. Ortiz and Lubin have reportedly agreed to a fight on October 18, a week from Ennis’ 154-pound debut against Lima ― which coincides with the rumors signaling Ennis and Ortiz will face each other somewhere in early 2026.
