Ennis stops Stanionis to unify welterweight titles

Jaron Ennis celebrates after beating Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City
Jaron Ennis extended his record to 30 knockouts and no defeats in 34 professional fights [Getty Images]

American welterweight Jaron Ennis unified the IBF and WBA world titles with a sixth-round technical knockout of Lithuania's Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City.

Ennis, 27, won the IBF title in November 2023 and saw off WBA champion Stanionis to maintain his unbeaten record with a 34th victory.

Stanionis, 30, had held the WBA welterweight crown since 2022 and won all his previous 15 professional bouts, but failed to come out for the seventh round after suffering a series of savage body shots in the sixth.

"What's crazy is that I had a dream I was going to stop him just like this, and it came true," said Ennis after completing the third defence of his IBF title.

Stanionis started brightly, catching Ennis with two crunching overhand rights in the third round.

But Ennis responded with a dominant fourth round, wobbling Stanionis with his jab while relentlessly targeting his body.

Stanionis needed to drop down to one knee in the sixth round after being caught with several punishing body shots in quick succession.

Although he made it to the end of the round, his trainer Marvin Somodio put a stop to the fight.

Save Story