By: Sean Crose
I’m often asked why I prefer boxing to mixed martial arts. I always respond with the perhaps vague assertion that boxing is cleaner. And by clean I don’t mean morally clean. Indeed the forces behind, say, UFC are perhaps less shady than the forces behind professional boxing. What I mean by cleaner is sharper. Mixed martial arts can be explosive, and the fighters have more weapons to work with, such as kicks and takedowns, but what makes me prefer boxing can best be understood watching Jaron “Boots” Ennis in action. This is particularly true when it comes to Ennis’ extraordinary performance against Eimantas Stanionis this past week in Atlantic City.
Stanionis, who held the the WBA welterweight title was no joke. He was a high pressure, undefeated world champion. There was solid reason to believe beforehand that the confident Lithuanian just might pull off the upset. It clearly wasn’t meant to be. Why? Because IBF champion Ennis was that much better. There were times during Saturday’s throwdown where it seemed like the two men shouldn’t be sharing the same ring, so vast was the difference in talent and ability. Stanionis was and is a very good fighter – but it’s time to admit Ennis might be a great one.
Saturday’s fight wasn’t a brawl, but it was exciting and showcased the kind of performance one just won’t see in an octagon. For Ennis was able to maintain distance, avoid getting hit and deliver clean shots of his own. Stanionis had his moments, but they never amounted to anything. And, in the end, Stanionis’ corner decided to stop the fight for the sake of their battered fighter’s health. It was a wise and safety-minded decision. It was also a true star marking performance from Philadelphia’s Ennis, one of the best the sport has provided to fans this year.
Ennis isn’t the kind of fighter who one could imagine successfully making the switch from boxing to mixed martial arts, as the legendary Holly Holm did. The man performs best under the demanding rules of boxing, where fists and footwork do the heavy lifting. The one thing the man has in common with his mixed martial arts counterparts is an ability to end fights early. Ennis is far from a slick defensive minded fighter. Rather, he’s’ one who employs a combination of fluidity and power. It’s an impressive thing to see…and a sharp showcase of how soaring the sport of boxing can be.
