Eddie Hearn Defends Uisma Lima as Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’s Opponent for 154-Pound Debut, Citing Top 10 Rankings Amid Fan Criticism

Promoter Eddie Hearn defended his alternative of Uisma Lima for his Matchroom fighter, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, to battle in his debut at 154 on October eleventh in Philadelphia.

Hearn identified that Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) is ranked within the high 10 by three of the 4 organizations at junior middleweight. He says his solely loss to Aaron McKenna got here when he took the battle on 5 days’ discover.

Followers Criticize Hearn’s Selection

Followers have criticized Hearn’s decide, saying that he may have chosen Jesus Ramos, Israil Madrimov, or Serhii Bohachuk. As an alternative, he centered on the sluggish, easy-to-hit Lima, whose file is inflated with victories over 14 unknown opponents, dug up from varied components of the world.

Lima is ranked #9 IBF, #9 WBC, and #10 WBA at 154. Nonetheless, there are loads of badly flawed contenders ranked about him. So, it doesn’t imply something that he’s ranked within the high 10.

“It’s an awesome battle. You’ve acquired a man within the high 10 with three governing our bodies,” stated Eddie Hearn to The Stomping Grounds, speaking about Uisma Lima. “He’s been on the street in his final three fights, beating undefeated fighters.”

Being ranked within the high 10 isn’t what it’s cracked as much as be in any weight class, particularly at 154. In the event you’re not ranked within the high 5 at 154, you’re flawed. Even being ranked within the high 5 doesn’t imply a lot. Josh Kelly and Jorge Garcia are each high 5 and journeymen-level fighters, talent-wise. Uisma Lima’s one-sided defeat in opposition to Aaron McKenna in 2022 confirmed his limitations as a fighter.

Eddie’s Seek for 147-lb Opponents

“We may have chosen those that didn’t even come to win. We provided eight fighters the battle,” stated Hearn. “Everybody talks about wanting it [Rashidi Ellis, Abel Ramos, and Josh Kelly], they usually simply priced themselves so wildly out of the battle as a result of they know the way good ‘Boots’ is.”

Hearn was combing the 147-lb ranks for opponents for Ennis to get him acclimated to 154, and he wasn’t aiming excessive. Welterweight Abel Ramirez has six losses on his resume. Ellis is one other marginal 147-lb fighter. The true query is, why was Hearn scouring the welterweight division seeking opponents to assist put together ‘Boots’ for 154? The one cause you’d decide them is to make Ennis look higher than he’s.

“I needed somebody at 154 that may be a true 154, not a 147-pounder that’s moved up, who will come to win, that’s actually, actually powerful. And that’s Lima,” stated Hearn. “He’s an excellent fighter. It’s not a straightforward battle. Once you discuss concerning the different fighters that we have been speaking to. Ellis, Lima beats him. [Brian] Mendoza, Lima beats him.”

Mendoza has misplaced two out of his final three fights. So, it’s not an enormous deal that Lima would beat him. I don’t know that he would. As unhealthy as Aaron McKenna defeated Lima, Mendoza would as effectively.

The Fighters Hearn Ought to Have Picked

Jesus Ramos Jr
Serhii Bohachuk
Israil Madrimov
Charles Conwell
Erickson Lubin
Yoenis Tellez
Tim Tszyu

Lima’s Brief-Discover Loss to McKenna

“It is a man [Lima] that has misplaced as soon as on 4 days’ discover or 5 days’ discover [to Aaron McKenna by a one-sided 10-round unanimous decision],” stated Hearn about Lima. “It is a powerful younger man that’s coming with loads of spirit, and I want somebody to check ‘Boots’ at 154 earlier than we dive into all the large fights.”

The rationale Lima misplaced to McKenna wasn’t as a result of his taking the battle on 5 days’ discover. He was crushed as a result of he was outclassed from the get-go. Hearn is being disengenuous when he blames Uisma’s defeat in opposition to McKenna on his taking the battle on quick discover. You can see from the primary spherical that he was over his head. Lima was too sluggish, and McKenna wasn’t falling for his simplistic feints.

“Yeah, in fact,” stated Hearn when requested if Lima is getting used to organize Ennis for Vergil Ortiz Jr. “There’s nothing mistaken with a younger man [28-years-old] like ‘Boots’ having a battle at 154 in opposition to a man that’s high 10 on the earth. However individuals wish to moan. Let’s see. The proof is within the pudding.

“I guess you Lima offers us an awesome battle on October eleventh, and he’ll come stuffed with power and stuffed with want, and that’s what we would like,” stated Hearn.

Predictably, that is going to be a whole whitewash with Ennis dominating Lima. Nonetheless, as a substitute of Hearn revisiting his earlier feedback by admitting that he was mistaken by overselling Uisma Lima, he’ll bang on about how nice Ennis is. He received’t admit that he acquired it mistaken by deciding on