Boots Comes Home: Jaron Ennis vs. Uisma Lima Final Eliminator Set for Oct. 11 in Philly

Jaron “Boots” Ennis is taking his star power up a division—and back to his backyard. The former two-belt welterweight champion will make his 154-lb debut in a final eliminator against crafty southpaw Uisma Lima on October 11 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has been calling this a dangerous first step at 154, and it tracks. Lima isn’t a headline name, but the Angola-born, Portugal-based spoiler brings a 14-1 (10 KOs) record, with his lone defeat a decision to highly regarded Aaron McKenna. He’s also been active and winning at super welterweight, including a stoppage over Shervantaigh Koopman to retain the IBO strap.

Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), was last seen in April, halting Eimantas Stanionis to add the WBA title to his IBF belt at 147. Now, with a move to what he and Hearn insist is a more natural weight, Boots is talking like a man on tour:

“They can say what they want… these dudes can’t tie my shoes. I’m the best in the world. I want all the big names and belts. The tour continues.”

Lima, for his part, is promising to turn the party into a dogfight:

“I’m very excited to take the biggest challenge of my life. We’re coming to war. Please don’t take me lightly, Boots—I’m coming to win.”

Should Ennis handle business in his homecoming, the runway points toward the kind of blockbuster he’s been teased for—a Vergil Ortiz meeting in the first part of next year.

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This is smart matchmaking with real peril. Ennis gets the hometown roar, a southpaw look, and immediate stakes at 154—all while proving whether his speed/power scales up. Lima’s a live underdog: compact counters, road-tested, and confident enough to take risks. If Boots blows him away, he plants a flag in a crowded super-welter field and adds fuel to the Ortiz fight. If he has to solve problems for 6–8 rounds, that’s valuable tape before the elite start circling. Either way, Philly’s getting a measuring stick—and possibly a statement.