Philly’s first master and trainer and one of the world’s best “Bozy’s” Ennis talks about boxing today.
A year ago I did an article about “Bozy” Ennis and his 3 children! Bozy himself looks like he could get back in the ring today as long as he’s fit.
I nominated both “Bozy” and his son, USBA champion Derek “Pooh” Ennis, 24-5-1, with 13 stoppages for the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame, and both were inducted. I have several times nominated NABF Super Middleweight champion Farah Ennis, 22-2 with 12 stoppages, I hope it will be soon for a vote.
His youngest son now the IBF World Welterweight titleholder, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, 32-0 with 29 stopups, won the WBC USA Silver Welterweight title by stopping Armando ‘Macho’ Alvarez, 18-0, in 2018.
In 2023, he won the IBF Interim Welterweight title, defeating No. 1 ranked Karen Chukhadzhian 21-1, winning all 12 rounds in Washington, DC In her first defense, she defeated Venezuela’s Roiman ‘Flaco de Oro’ Villa, 26-1, in Atlantic City, NJ.
In his last fight in July, he stopped David ‘Ava’ Avanesyan, 30-4-1, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly. In November, he will again fight Chukhadzhian No. 1 by order of the IBF in Philly. He is the most avoided boxer in the division.
In 2008, “Pooh” won both the Pennsylvania Light Middleweight and USA Mid-Atlantic titles, defeating Troy Browning, 20-2-1, at the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia. Then, in 2009, he won the vacant USBA Super Welterweight title, defeating Nigerian Eromosele ‘Bad Boy’ Albert, 22-3-1, at the legendary Blue Horizon in Philly. In 2014, he ended his career.
Farah won the vacant NABF Super Middleweight title in 2010, stopping Victor Lares, 15-4, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His last fight was in 2015.
I asked “Bozy” the following questions:
KEN H: I have known and respected you ever since I met you. I believe it is time to be recognized as one of the best teachers, as you like to call it, in boxing.
BOZY: My name is a teacher, and yes, also a trainer.
KEN H: Few trainers have ever had three sons who won all the titles. I know now that the promoter Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) is promoting “Boots”, and you are trying to unify all the titles. I’m glad it was decided not to go to Germany for your next fight, instead of having it in Philly again.
BOZY: We’re not going to Germany. Eddie is good to work with and will give us those fights for unification in time.
KEN H: What is your opinion of the other champions, starting with Interim WBO champion Brian ‘The Assassin ll’ Norman, Jr. 26-0 with 20 stoppages, who was going to defend his title but suffered an injury?
BOZY: We want to fight.
KEN H: What is your opinion of Interim WBC Champion Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios, 29-2 with 18 stopups, is scheduled to fight Abel Ramos, 28-6-2, for the WBC title in November?
BOZY: Good fighter, and I’d like to take him.
KEN H: What is your opinion of WBA champion Eimantes Stanionis, 15-0 with 9 stoppages?
BOZY: Another good one. I tried to get him.
KEN H: I want to clear the air about champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford. They say you refused a fight with him.
BOZY: We’ve been trying to get it for 2 and a half years. We were never offered that fight. Another Vergil Ortiz, Jr. he rejected us.
KEN H: I know that in the past you have worked with “The New” Ray Robinson, 25-3-2. Who else do you have and are you currently working with?
BOZY: Jarrell ‘Real Big Baby’ Miller, Stephon ‘Cool Boy Steph’ Fulton, Andy Cruz, Haven Brady, Jr., Christian Carto, Ismael Muhammad, Oshae Jones, Prince Badi Ajamu, Anthony ‘The Messenger’ Thompson, Demetrius ‘The Gladiator’ Hopkins, Coy Evans, Rasheem Brown, Manny Folley, among others.
KEN H: Boots kicked Crawford and Ortiz up to super welterweight.
BOZY: We want to unify before we move, but we may have to if we don’t have a unification fight soon.
KEN H: I want to thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.
BOZY: Always a pleasure, Ken.
Boots followed several former Philly welterweights and super welterweights in the past.
One that stood out was “Gypsy” Joe Harris, 24-1 with 9 stopups. In 1966, he defeated Philly boxer Stanley ‘Kitten Hayward, 22-2-1, at the Philadelphia Arena. After defeating Coca Cola in a non-title match, he would later fight Coca Cola for the title, but Coke never achieved the rematch and had to be stripped. Harris then moved up in weight, losing only to Emile Griffith, and then retired when it was discovered he had a blind eye.
Harris then defeated Philly’s killer, Cuban Jose Stable, who had defeated Sidney ‘Sweet Pea’ Adams, 16-2-1, Charley Scott, 34-23, Hayward, 16-1-1, Dick Turner, 19 -0-1, losing. Percy Manning, 15-3. He also defeated former world champion Curtis Cokes, 32-5-1, Kenny Lane, 63-9, split with Angel Robinson Garcia, 40-9-1, in back-to-back fights, and Billy Collins, 24- 3- 1, before fighting Harris.
Turner, 19-2-1, after losing his undefeated record at Stable, had defeated Louis Federico Thompson, 130-12-10, Manning, 11-0, and Isaac Logart, 64-20-9. My first live fight I attended was Turner losing to Hayward by split decision, and I think Turner won. He then withdrew.
Bobby ‘Boogaloo’ Watts, 39-7-1, fighting at welterweight and middleweight, had defeated Philly’s Eugene ‘Cyclone’ Hart, 24-3, and Willie ‘The Worm’ Monroe, 29-2-1. Then “Marvellous” Marvin Hagler, 25-0-1.
World contenders Garnet ‘Sugar’ Hart, 29-7-2, with 22 stopups. Gil Turner, 56-19-2.
I could go on and on, so Boots follows a few fighters from Philly who, unlike him, have never won a world title.
