By: Hans Themistode
Like the nearly 40,000 fans who stood up and applauded at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, last weekend, Jaron Ennis admits he was thoroughly entertained.
On April 16, Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas waged a back-and-forth fight with the winner of three of the world’s four major titles at 147 pounds. Although their first half of the match was tightly contested, Spence Jr withdrew in the second half. The beginning of the end for the Cuban star began on Saturday as Spence Jr landed a well-timed uppercut on the inside.
From there, Ugas’ right eye began to swell. While the former Olympic bronze medalist gave everything he had, he eventually succumbed to the strength of his senior, losing in the ninth round due to the doctor’s discontinuation.
Ennis, of course, was watching closely. And while Spence Jr. with. Ugas had many moments of high drama, and in the end, Ennis wasn’t surprised with the outcome.
“It was a good game,” Ennis said in an interview with YSM Sports Media. “Spence did what he had to do, he looked good.”
Although Ennis always believed that Spence Jr would win, in the fourth round, Ugas nearly beat the score. In one awkward scene, Ugas lands a short right hook inside, sending Spence Jr’s mouth halfway across. The Dallas production seems to forget he’s in a back-and-forth when he stops socializing with Ugas in search of his mouthpiece.
With Spence Jr. defenseless, Ugas combined three punches that sent his men to the ropes. At the time, it looked like Ugas might have attacked, but instead, he stood motionless in the middle of the ring, confused as to what was going on. Seconds later, referee Laurence Cole paused to let Spence Jr retrieve the mouthpiece.
In that case, it looks like Ugas is trying to show sportsmanship towards his opponent. While Ennis respects Ugas’ decision, he believes the Cuban star has missed a huge opportunity.
“Ugas is not without killer instincts. It’s nice to be nice but at the end of the day it’s boxing. You have to protect yourself at all times.”
Currently, after the victory, Spence Jr is holding the IBF, WBA and WBC welterweight championship belts. The unity star has made it clear his intentions that his next and final bout in the £147 weight division will be against WBO title player Terence Crawford.
For fans of the sport of pugilistic, an undisputed duel with two of the world’s best boxers is music to their ears. However, in Ennis’ case, hearing such news made him bitter.
On May 14, Ennis will attempt to get one step closer to his own world title when he takes on Custio Clayton at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. If Ennis continues to do what many are expecting, he will become Spence Jr.’s mandatory IBF challenger.
After watching Ugas vs. Spence Jr last weekend, the highly-rated candidate wasn’t without worries about his chances against either man or even Crawford.
“I knew I could do it. I knew I would be able to take anyone down and outrun anyone.”
