UNDEFEATED WELTERWEIGHT JARON ENNIS TO FACE DEMIAN DANIEL FERNANDEZ IN NATIONAL TELEVISION RETURN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 LIVE ON SHOWTIME®
Highly Regarded Ennis Clashes With Fernandez in Co-Featured Bout of Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin On SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION From Dort Federal Events Center In Flint, Mich.
NEW YORK – September 20, 2019 – Undefeated welterweight prospect Jaron Ennis will face Demian Daniel Fernandez in his return to national television on Saturday, October 5 live on SHOWTIME.
The highly touted Ennis (23-0, 21 KOs) will fight on TV for the first time in nearly a year against once-beaten Argentinian Fernandez (12-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round co-featured bout on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION beginning live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Dort Federal Events Center in Flint, Mich.
VIDEO: https://twitter.com/ShowtimeBoxing/status/1175084862816116736
With the addition of the 22-year-old Ennis to the October 5 card, two young American prospects from boxing’s glamour divisions will share the spotlight on the undercard of Claressa Shields vs. Ivana Habazin. In the opening bout of the telecast, undefeated, 25-year-old heavyweight Jermaine Franklin (19-0, 13 KOs) will make his third consecutive SHOWTIME appearance of 2019 as he seeks a definitive victory against once-beaten Pavel Šour (11-1, 6 KOs).
“I'm really excited to be on this show for my first big fight of 2019,” Ennis said. “I want to thank Stephen Espinoza and everyone at SHOWTIME for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to reminding everybody who I am and what I’m capable of doing. We have big plans for the future, but the first step is a statement win on October 5.”
Philadelphia’s Ennis returned from a nine-month layoff due to a promotional dispute in August, picking up where he left off with a first-round TKO of Franklin Mamani. Ennis has now scored 13 straight knockouts, including two emphatic victories on ShoBox: The New Generation in 2018.
Ennis was a standout amateur before turning professional in 2016, winning the 2015 National Golden Gloves and earning a No. 1 ranking as the top amateur at 141 pounds. Since turning pro, Ennis has stormed through his first 23 opponents while his level of opposition has steadily increased. The aggressive and come-forward welterweight owns 10 first round knockouts and has yet to be pushed past the sixth round.
Fernandez, of Buenos Aires, turned professional in 2014 and has earned 12 victories in 13 fights while mostly campaigning in Argentina. The 30-year-old has fought in three scheduled 10-rounders, including in his U.S. debut in his most recent bout on August 10 in Detroit. The aggressive, come-forward Fernandez suffered the lone blemish on his record in 2014 less than two months after turning professional. The welterweight has since rallied off nine straight victories and looks forward to making a statement in his national television debut.
“This will be my second fight in the U.S. and I’m excited to show I’m ready for the spotlight,” said Fernandez. “I would like to thank my promoter, Dequan with CMC Promotions, for giving me this opportunity. I know I’m the underdog but I want the fans to know I am coming to knock him out. Vamonos!”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Dort Center box office.
Barry Tompkins will call the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION action from ringside with boxing historian Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.