One of the biggest talents in the fight game, Jaron Ennis believes he will defeat former world champion Sergey Lipinets in style and announce himself as a serious player in the welterweight division at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on April 10.
Switch-hitter Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs and 1 NC) feels Russia’s gritty, no nonsense Lipinets (16-1-1, 12 KOs) is tailor-made for him and he can send a warning shot to the whole 147lbs division with an eye-catching win next month.
The flashy Philadelphian, who alongside Texan puncher Vergil Ortiz is emerging as one of the chief threats to the established welterweight order, feels this could be his breakout performance after a head clash saw his last fight with Chris van Heerden ruled a No Contest after just 156 seconds last December.
“It’s my time and this is the fight that’s going to take me to the next level and bring out the skills and ability that you’ve never seen before,” said Ennis. “You will see an amazing, strong, sharp fighter ready to put on a punishing performance and get the knockout at the end of the night.
“I know Sergey Lipinets is going to come forward and be right in front of me. That’s his style and it’s perfect for me. His style clashes perfectly with mine and he’s going to be running into shots all night long.
“Whatever he brings, I’m going to be ready for it. We don’t look at anybody as a stepping stone but this fight is going to take me to the next level. I can do a bunch of different things and my opponent doesn’t know how I’m going to come out. He just needs to know I’m ready and this is the hardest I’ve ever worked to get ready for a fight. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a very long time and I finally got a guy with a name and now it’s my time to shine and show the world my talent and show them that I’m not to be played with. I’m a dangerous man and they will see on April 10.
“Not looking past Sergey Lipinets, but with me doing my thing on April 10, I definitely feel like I’ll be ready for a world title shot by the end of the year. You know me. I’ll fight anybody and everybody. All they have to do is call. I’m hungry and I’ve been waiting for these types of fights. All I want to do is fight, be great, be a legend and a multi-division world champion.”