Boxing
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Jaron Ennis was feeling it last Saturday night.
“It” was a rhythm of boxing and a beat down. Ennis worked up and down and side to side. Sweet.
He even ate a few shots and didn’t blink.
His fight six months ago had brought out the critics. He won every round against Karen Chukhadzhian, but the unknown Ukrainian had gone the distance.
Not good, said several detractors. Ennis was “supposed” to have knocked out Chukhadzhian. He came into the fight with 19 KOs in succession. Number 20 would be easy, or so they said.
Chukhadzhian was crafty and a survivor. Ennis improved to 30-0 with 27 knockouts. Nope, he’s over-hyped.
Ennis said he was unbothered by the criticism.
“They done fell for the trap,” Ennis last month at a press conference.”I’m a shine and I’m a show them why I’m the best one hundred forty-seven pounder in the world.”
Ennis fought Roiman Villa last Saturday night, who had engaged in 27 fights, won 26, and scored 24 knockouts.
His previous bout was a come-from-behind 12-round majority decision over previously undefeated Rashidi Ellis.
Ellis boxed Villa’s ears off for most of the fight. But Villa refused to fold. He kept coming. Ellis wilted late as Villa floored him twice to get the inspirational decision.
His reward was a fight with Ennis, who knew what to expect.
“He comes forward,he doesn’t know nothing else,” said Ennis last week. “He’s a good fighter, but he’s Tailor-made for me.”
Villa takes three or four to land one. Coming into the fight with Ennis, Villa had never visited the canvas.
Ennis wanted to be the first.
[A knockout) is the goal,” Ennis said.”I want to look good, be sharp, beat him up, get that stoppage.”
Prophetic.
Ennis beat Villa in every conceivable way. He outboxed him when he felt like it. Out slugged him up close. His fast hands had Villa bamboozled.
Villa, as advertised, was relentless. And tough. He shook his head after Ennis tagged him. But tough can get you only so far.
Ennis clocked Villa with a right hand near the end of round six. This time, the warrior didn’t shake his head.
He staggered.
A two-punch combination wobbled him. Ennis tried to finish the show, but Villa hung tough. But it was obvious he was feeling the Ennis fury. He looked puzzled as he sat on his stool between rounds, his trainer barking in his ears.
Villa took more punishment in round eight. A New Jersey State Athletic Control Board physician studied Villa after the stanza. The beat-down continued in round 10. Villa courageously marched into the buzz-saw.
He finally slid down near the ropes after Ennis clocked him with two lefts and a powerful right. The referee waved the fight off.
“My performance was good,” said Ennis. “I was breaking him down, and I came out victorious. I knew he was a tough kid. I just had to be smart and take my time and keep touching and touching, and eventually I was going to get him. I was setting him up.”
You said it, Boots.
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