Eimantas Stanionsis to Use Underdog Status as Fuel Against Ennis
With the upcoming unification against IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29KO), WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9KO) is comfortable with not being the favorite to win.
On April 12, the two champions will collide in a fight that will crown the winner as the Ring Magazine champion as well. After things fell apart with the Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight, Team Ennis seems to be delivering on the promise of making a unification next.
HE WELCOMES BEING UNDERVALUED
Stanionis has long wanted to fight one of the champions in the division and is no stranger to calling for a fight with Ennis. Him being the underdog should surprise no one. The WBA champion explained to FightHype why this doesn’t bother him in the upcoming Ennis showdown.
“Honestly, when I came to the States in 2017, I was always the underdog. It wasn’t my home. I was always fighting in the opponent’s territory or somewhere else. I always was the underdog, so it doesn’t matter . . . I know I’ll be the underdog in this fight. So that’s what I like, all the time.”
Stanionis should feel confident going into the fight, especially given Boots’ underwhelming performance against Karen Chukhadzhian. The WBA champion likes fighting on the inside, is a solid body puncher, and is an extremely accurate counterpuncher.
Many pundits feel that he is Ennis’s most dangerous opponent to date. Fans can expect fireworks, given that Stanionis will stand and trade with the Philly southpaw. On paper, Boots has more natural talent and physical gifts. However, a solid game plan, toughness, and ring intelligence can neutralize that.
Stanionis has the tools and temperament to give Ennis absolute hell once the bell rings. When it’s all said and done, he hopes the boxing public will no longer be underappreciative.
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