Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis opens up on his return against David Avanesyan, his Philadelphia homecoming… and how rapping has become his ‘therapy’

Jaron “Boots” Ennis has found a few ways to navigate the fog. Sometimes he runs on the road. “If I need to clear my head, I go for a run,” Ennis says. Sometimes he goes to the studio.

Rap has become a refuge over the past 12 months, while the welterweight has waited and waited. The twisted logic of boxing means that Ennis has become the IBF world champion in the past year. Even without fighting. Even while his career has stalled.

The undefeated American, one of the most exciting prospects in the sport, returns to the ring on Saturday night. His first title defense – against David Avanesyan – comes more than a year after his last appearance.

He was only interim belt holder when he beat Roiman Villa in July 2023. Since then, Boots has been promoted to full champion. He has also become a more skilled wordsmith. Ennis shudders when he listens back to his old tapes.

It’s weird… I w“Like super bad,” he says. “I feel much better now.” He’s had to practice a lot. “I just go to the studio for fun – just to clear my head… it’s like therapy,” Ennis explains.

The Philadelphia fighter has won all 31 of his professional fights, including 28 by knockout

“A while ago, I went to the studio with one of my buddies. He was rapping and he was like, ‘Yo, do this song.’ And I ended up going with him to do the song. And since then, all I’ve been doing is rapping.”

He tends to freestyle about his life and loves. “Boxing, cars, houses, money, women – everything,” he laughs. “I used to write stuff down. But it sounds better when you start from the top… when you write, it sounds like you’re reading.”

So when’s the album coming out? “I’ve got some stuff,” says Ennis. “But I’m not releasing it!”

Fortunately, the 27-year-old has no reservations about putting on a show in the ring. Speaking to Mail Sport shortly after signing a new promotional deal with Matchroom, Ennis said: “They’re a power duo.”

Eddie Hearn sees superstar potential in the Philadelphia fighter, who has won all 31 of his professional fights but has not been home since 2018.

Boots is back on the ground in Philly on Saturday night, taking on Avanesyan, a seasoned operator who stepped in for a second shot at the world title after Ennis’ original opponent, Cody Crowley, was injured.

The hope is that this is the first page of a new chapter in Ennis’ career, which saw him on the verge of a mega-fight last year.

‘Boots’ Ennis takes on David Avanesyan on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia

After Terence Crawford defeated Errol Smith to become the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era, Boots became mandatory challenger.

It was a tantalizing match-up between one of boxing’s pound-for-pound kings and his heir apparent. It was a fight that would have thrust Boots into the spotlight. The timing could hardly have been better.

Spence-Crawford came on the heels of Tank Davis’ fight with Ryan Garcia and it seemed that, after years of slipping into the shadows, boxing in America had reached the crest of a wave. An era of big fights and simmering rivalries loomed on the horizon.

Instead? None of Crawford, Spence or Ennis have fought since, while Garcia’s recent bout with Devin Haney – another American sensation – has cast a shadow over the sport.

A year later, Crawford has moved up to super welterweight and Ennis is without a clear dance partner. That must hurt?

“There’s no one to blame,” he insists. “It’s just boxing. It’s the business – people trying to figure out the right things to do, to make the right fights.”

“I love fighting, I love beating people up and knocking them out,” the American told Mail Sport

Boots hoped he would at least have a belt now. He’s had to fill his time in other ways, like basketball, rapping and spending time with his family. “I don’t really do much. I just work out and chill,” Ennis says.

A little frustration won’t deter Ennis from his course. “In 2025, I’ll be undisputed at welterweight,” he says. “Then I’ll go to 154 pounds and do the same thing.”

Who he has to defeat to do this is of little importance.

“I don’t care, I just want to fight,” Ennis says. “I love fighting, I love beating people up and knocking them out.”

Ennis was built for this life by his father and trainer, Bozy, and his older brothers. Both Derek and Farah Ennis climbed the greasy pole of boxing and left big Boots to fill. “They created this monster,” Ennis says.

During the drive from Philadelphia to Brooklyn, where he met Mail Sport, Boots sat with his brothers to watch some of their old games.

Ennis spoke to Mail Sport shortly after signing a new promotional deal with Matchroom

“They used to fight at a place called Blue Horizon in Philadelphia,” he explains. “It’s a small, cozy place, but they used to rock that place. And when I was a kid, I used to say, ‘I can’t wait to fight here, I can’t wait to fight in Philly.’

Saturday night his wish will come true again. ‘It will be something big, something impeccable.’

Ennis wants to make his mark on his home country – he helps train young fighters, he’s spoken to a few schools. In recent years he’s supported a boy named Jax whose life depends on a bone marrow transplant.

“It’s very urgent,” Boots said. “I’m on FaceTime with him… I’m trying to do my best to get him out as much as possible, to see if we can find a match.”

The goal is to see Jax in a fight one day; more than 10,000 fans are expected to pack the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night to honor the fighter — and the city that shaped him.

“The determination, the hard work, and always finding a way to win,” Ennis says. “That’s Philadelphia for you.”