ATLANTIC CITY – Eimantas Stanionis is among the many who considers Jaron “Boots” Ennis one of the world’s most promising fighters.

On Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Stanionis and Ennis contest the WBA and IBF 147lbs titles, and perhaps more relevantly the status of finest welterweight in the world.

A decorated weight division that had stalled while Terence Crawford and Errol Spence resisted fighting each other until in 2023 finally contesting the undisputed title and determining that Crawford was the number one has required a new leader since Crawford’s move to 154lbs, and without yet proving it in the ring Ennis has been widely anointed his successor-in-waiting.

The 27-year-old IBF champion regardless lacks the defining victory that Saturday’s contest could deliver for him – and Stanionis, the WBA champion, recognises why there exists such faith in his future beyond Saturday’s fight.

Stanionis, from Lithuania, speaks like a fighter who has confidence in his chances of victory and a quiet determination to prove that he shouldn’t be the underdog, but he respects Ennis’ potential and to the extent that he is expecting his rival to prove the finest he will have fought.

“Really good – everything they say, he’s really good,” the 30-year-old told BoxingScene. “He can switch stances; he can bang; box; everything. Speed; IQ. 

“I saw some things [potential weaknesses] that I need to work on and I was working on them in the training camp.

“I expect him [to prove my toughest opponent] but I also had tough fights as an amateur; Olympic champions; everything. I think I’ve seen it all.”

One potential weakness for Ennis could exist in his possible struggle to make weight. By the admission of his father and trainer Derek “Bozy” Ennis his future at 147lbs is limited. Saturday’s fight is also the first for which he has worked with a nutritionist; that he looks so much bigger than the physically strong Stanionis also suggests that he will be drained when on Friday they weigh in.

“I think we’re a similar size,” Stanionis said. “He’s a little bit higher but he was with bigger shoes. I sign on the paper that I will make weight – I don’t [worry] about him. Sometimes it’s important; sometimes no. For this fight I think we respect each other and each other’s skills – we’re going to beat each other up.

“It’s respect. It’s a big fight for the belts. I don’t know if we need to sell this fight or not. I think they’ve sold out already. A lot of people from Lithuania will come to support me, so it’s gonna be a great night.”