Philly's Jaron Ennis advances to Golden Gloves nationals
Ennis won the 141-pound Pennsylvania open-class title with a decision over Rosalindo Morales.
THE WAY he sees it, there is one thing that could derail Jaron Ennis' promising boxing career faster than an unseen right hook.
"Girls," said Ennis, who earned his second consecutive Pennsylvania Golden Gloves championship on Saturday. "Partying with the girls and stuff like that. It's not a problem for me because I know when to turn it down, when to turn it off."
Ennis is a 17-year-old senior at Walter Biddle Saul High School in Roxborough and the latest prodigy of Bozy Ennis, his father, trainer and a renowned boxer in his own right.
Jaron Ennis, who grew up in Germantown, won the 141-pound open-class title with a decision over Rosalindo Morales from the Western District of Pennsylvania at the Event Center in Pennsauken.
The Eastern District, made up of Philadelphia-area fighters, won all eight open-class bouts. The group advances to the Golden Gloves National Championships in Las Vegas (May 11-16).
"I have to redeem myself from last year," Ennis said, looking ahead.
Ennis was a national runner-up to Washington's Gary Antaunne Russell in 2014 in a decision that Bozy Ennis still feels was wildly inaccurate.
Jaron was a relative novice then with about 15 fights in his amateur career. He has twice that many entering this year's competition, thanks in part to winning a gold medal at the Junior Open and Youth National Championships in Reno, Nev., in January.
The extended experience is probably why he was able to withstand Morales, who often tried to push Ennis around the ring. A big right hook by Ennis in the second round was followed by a tackle that left both fighters on the canvas.
"Everybody fights me like that," Ennis said. "I get slammed every fight. They try to elbow me in my face. I'm used to it now. It doesn't make me mad."
Ennis' older brothers, Derek and Farah, each fought professionally, so he's been in the gym since he was a toddler. His nickname is "Boots," but it has nothing to do with shoe apparel.
"My mom used to call me 'Boops,' " he said with a laugh. "But when I got to the gym, everybody thought [my dad] was saying 'Boots,' - as in boxing boots. It just stuck with me ever since."
As for this week's megafight:
"I like Mayweather," he said of the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight. "I think Mayweather is going to stop him in the 10th round."
Golden nuggets
Kahlim Mills was awarded fighter of the night by Golden Gloves officials after his TKO of Michael Withrow in the 123-pound division. The
Daily News
would have given it to Paul Kroll, who decisioned Gerald Sherrell in a 165-pound slugfest . . . Ringside physician Dr. George Bonner was this year's inductee into the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Hall of Fame. He was genuinely surprised by the honor . . . Christian Carto, who won the 108-pound Golden Gloves national championship in 2014, won the 114-pound Pennsylvania state title this year in a walkover . . . The last punch of the card was probably the most violent. Darmani Rock knocked out Jordan Roussos in the 201+ division. Rock had to have a 30-pound weight advantage. Maybe 40. "Damn," one spectator cried out as he stepped into the ring, "that boy needs to be playing for the Eagles."
Roster
The full contingent representing Pennsylvania at the Golden Gloves national championships in Las Vegas (May 11-16):
FighterWt.
Christian Carto, Rosati's . . . 114
Kahlim Mills, ABC Rec.. . . 123
Felix Alvarado, Fine. &Stumpf . . . 132
Jaron Ennis, Bozy's . . . 141
Francis Oran, LMendez . . . 152
Paul Kroll, Rivera Rec. . . . 165
Nigel Rodgers, Fine. & Stumpf . . . 178
Tom Hogan, Fight Firm . . . 201
Darmani Rock, Bad Landz. . . 201+