Ennis Meets Stanionis In Atlantic City for Unification Fight April 12

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis will clash in a unification title fight both have long hoped for. At stake are the IBF, WBA, and Ring Magazine World Welterweight titles at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday, April 12. The Matchroom Boxing card will air live in the U.S. and worldwide on DAZN.

Jaron Ennis is a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and many will travel to see him in nearby Atlantic City.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Ennis of Philadelphia (33-0, 29 KOs) puts his IBF title on the line for the third time in his third fight with Matchroom. Ennis forced David Avanesyan of Russia (31-5-1, 19 KOs) to retire after five rounds in July. In a November rematch, he won a decision over mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian of Ukraine (24-3, 13 KOs) in a surprisingly competitive fight.

Eimantas Stanionis took care of business against Gabriel Maestre and intends to do the same against Jaron Ennis. Photo: Matchroom Boxing

Stanionis of Lithuania, based in Los Angeles (15-0, 9 KOs) returned to the ring in April with a decision over Gabriel Maestre of Venezuela (6-1-1, 5 KOs) in Las Vegas to defend his WBA regular title. Stanionis was elevated to full champion in August when Terence Crawford vacated the WBA world title.

Since earning their titles, both Ennis and Stanionis have been searching for unification bouts, but opportunities have fallen through due to illness, injuries, and plain bad timing.

“This is the fight I’ve been waiting for,” said Ennis. “I believe I was made for moments like this, and on April 12, I will be making a big statement, and you will see the very best of me.  It’s time to shine, be great, and collect those belts.”

“This is it, the moment I’ve been envisioning my entire life,” said Stanionis. “Every sacrifice, every ounce of sweat, it’s all been for this fight.

“Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a great fighter, but I’m ready to take him down. On April 12 in Atlantic City, I’ll show the world what I’m made of. This unification bout is my chance to prove I’m the king of the Welterweight division, and there’s no way I’m letting this opportunity slip away. This moment is mine.”

“This is a simply brilliant fight,” said Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn. “When we signed Boots, I said to him that we would deliver unifications for him. So it is great to get this over the line for Jaron, and I know that with the biggest fight of his career right in front of him, he is going to shine brighter than ever.

“Eimantas is a brilliant fighter, and this is without doubt the number one and number two in the division, and I could not wish for a better fight to promote our first event in the storied Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.”

Atlantic City Setting Rich In Boxing History

Boardwalk Hall was the setting for the epic Ward-Gatti I fight on May 18, 2002. Photo: Ed Mulholland, HBO Boxing

Given the setting, it’s essentially a home fight for Ennis, whose devoted Philadelphia fans have packed venues to see him at his last two fights in Philadelphia. He last fought at Boardwalk Hall in July 2023 against Roiman Villa of Venezuela (27-3, 25 KOs). 

Boardwalk Hall has hosted legendary fights in boxing history. Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes there. Evander Holyfield defeated George Foreman, and two of the three fights in the Gatti vs Ward trilogy took place there. It was the site of Sugar Ray Leonard’s final fight.

Boardwalk Hall also played home to another Philadelphia native, Hall of Fame fighter Bernard Hopkins, who fought at Boardwalk Hall six times, including his victories over Antonio Tarver and Kelly Pavlik.

Announcements on the undercard will follow at a later date.