Two-time Caribbean Amateur Champion Jerone Ennis, has inked a multi-year promotional contract with Toronto based United Boxing Promotions.
The amateur boxing talent who hails from Denham Town in Kingston, has grown up in front of the eyes of the Jamaican boxing fraternity. He began boxing at age 10 at the Stanley Couch Gym under the mentorship of Kingsley Goodison. Now, after a successful stint on the amateur circuit, he has made the leap to the professional ranks, choosing to join fellow countrymen Kemahl 'The Hitman' Russell as the newest ‘United’ signing, who will train under the tutelage of Ryan Grant at Grant’s MMA and Boxing Gym in Toronto.
“I am excited to get my pro career started,” said Ennis. “I loved my time in the amateur ranks and representing my country around the world was a huge honour, but that chapter is closed now and I cannot wait to test myself in the pros.”
Ennis, set to compete in the light heavyweight division, is poised to make his professional debut later this year in Canada on the United Boxing Promotions platform. Promotional companies play a crucial role in advancing a boxers' career by maximizing their earning potential and creating opportunities for their success both inside and outside of the ring.
United Boxing Promotions will provide a range of essential services to Ennis, including securing fight opportunities, pre and post-fight promotional obligations, travel and accommodations and training support.
President of United Boxing Promotions, Tyler Buxton, expressed confidence in the 24-year old, stating, "This is another step in our efforts to build Jamaican boxing and sign the best Jamaican talent available. Jerone is an elite boxer, and joins a stable full of the best talent the country has to offer."
With lofty ambitions in the professional ranks, Ennis aspires to channel the Jamaican fighting spirit that previous Jamaican boxers have demonstrated on the world stage. "My goal is to rise through the ranks and in God's favor, one day become the number-one light heavyweight boxer in the world," shared Ennis, who in addition to his two Caribbean Amateur Championship, boasts a resume that also includes a bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Ennis is the fifth Jamaican joining United Boxing Promotion’s formidable 16-man roster that includes Ricardo 'Big 12' Brown, undefeated super welterweight Joshua 'HellRazor' Frazer, talented super middleweight Shakeel 'The Jamaican Juggernaut' Phinn and the previously mentioned Kemahl 'The Hitman' Russell.
“My local training will be based at H.I.I.T Box. It's the best move for me to team up with them and ‘United’. There’s a lot of class fighters on the ‘United’ team and of course, I believe I will add to that pedigree. I’ve always worked with and looked up to the ‘Hitman’ Kemahl Russell so to be able to follow his pathway is going to be amazing.”
The addition of Ennis to the stable has raised expectations and excitement within the Jamaican boxing community, as he gears up to showcase his skills on the professional stage. United's commitment to nurturing and promoting Jamaican talent shines through this latest signing - the blend of Jamaica's storied boxing heritage, Ennis's raw talent and United’s innovation in promoting Jamaican talent away from Jamaica continues a compelling narrative in creating a pathway that has been established to move Jamaican fighters forward on the international stage.
'I believe I won' - Fury loses historic undisputed championship to Usyk
Tyson Fury voiced his frustration after suffering the first defeat of his career to Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed world heavyweight title fight in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk won by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, and the first to unite all four belts.
The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 in favour of Usyk, while a third judge scored 114-113 to Fury.
After an even start, the momentum shifted in a brilliant ninth round for the Ukrainian as he caught Fury with a left hook, forcing the referee to give him a standing count before the bell saved him from a further onslaught.
A defiant Fury was not happy with the result, suggesting that Usyk received a sympathy vote from the judges.
"I believe I won that fight," he said in the ring. "I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority.
"His country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war. Make no mistake, I won that fight, in my opinion.
"It was one of the daftest decisions in boxing. We run it back in October. I'm not going to sit here and cry and make excuses."
Usyk remained undefeated as he took Fury’s WBC belt to add to his WBA, WBO and IBF collection.
"Thank you so much for my team. It's a big opportunity for my family, for my country," an emotional Usyk said afterwards. "I'm very happy.
"My people will be very happy. I think it's a big win, not only for me, it's a big win for my country, for soldiers who now defend my country.
"I think my father now is watching over me and is very happy. Dad, I love you. I can, you told me I can."
John Fury appears to headbutt member of Team Usyk ahead of undisputed bout
Tyson Fury's father John Fury was left with a nasty cut on his face after appearing to headbutt a member of Oleksandr Usyk's entourage at a pre-fight media day on Monday.
WBC belt-holder Fury will face Usyk for the undisputed world heavyweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with both men defending undefeated professional records.
With both fighters and their camps present at a hotel in the city for media duties on Monday, the build-up to their bout – the most eagerly anticipated in the heavyweight division in recent years – got off to a chaotic start.
Fury's father was pictured with blood running down his forehead after becoming involved in an altercation with a man wearing a Team Usyk tracksuit.
Widely shared footage on social media appeared to show him headbutting the man, who then had to be restrained by other members of Usyk's entourage.
It was later reported that the Saudi Arabian authorities were aware of the incident but did not plan to take any action.
Joshua expects to fight at Wembley in September with Zhang or Wilder lined up
Anthony Joshua expects to return to Wembley Stadium for his next fight in September, with either Zhilei Zhang or Deontay Wilder lined up as his opponent.
Joshua stopped Francis Ngannou in the second round in March, his fourth straight win since suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
His last two fights have been held in Saudi Arabia, but as he inches closer to a shot at regaining the titles he lost to Usyk three years ago, he is eyeing a return to his native London.
"It'll be some date between September 20 and September 25. Whenever they tell me there's a date, you know I'll be ready 100 per cent," Joshua told TalkSport of his next fight.
"It's going be in London, Wembley Stadium, this is what I'm being told. If this is what they say, they usually stick to their word."
Pushed on possible opponents, he said the result of Zhang's upcoming bout with Wilder – who was scheduled to face Joshua in March only for those plans to be derailed by a shock defeat to Joseph Parker – will be decisive.
"On June 1 in Saudi Arabia, they've got Filip Hrgovic versus Daniel Dubois and Zhilei Zhang versus Deontay Wilder. Out of that pool, that's who I'll be fighting."
On Wilder, Joshua added: "If he looks good, that'll reignite that flame that he had. Boxing is all about perception, so I pray he does his thing and Zhang does his thing, and I'm ready."
There has also been plenty of talk about Joshua facing Tyson Fury in an all-British tussle in recent years. The WBC heavyweight champion faces Usyk in a huge unification bout next month, and with a two-way rematch clause present in their deal, they are likely to face off twice before the year is out.
When those obligations have been met, Joshua will be waiting, saying: "I know the fans want that big fight with Fury, but he's got his obligations with Usyk.
"They're working on it but I've just got to stay focused, stay disciplined, steamroller through opponents and get closer and closer to having a fight with Fury. Hopefully that'll be in London as well."
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