Jaron “Boots” Ennis somehow inherited two mandatories with his latest title win.

A prior WBA ruling will require the unbeaten and unified welterweight titlist to next face Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov within 120 days of his April 12 stoppage win over Eimantas Stanionis. The winner of that fight will then have to commit to a title consolidation bout with whomever prevails in the May 2 Ryan Garcia-Rolando Romero meeting in New York City.

The ordered title fight with Giyasov was a condition placed to first allow Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), and Stanionis, 15-1 (9 KOs), to enter their IBF/WBA unification bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 

Ennis delivered a tour de force in prompting Stanionis’ corner to stop the fight after six one-sided rounds. The win saw Philadelphia’s Ennis defend his IBF welterweight title and claim the WBA strap.

Giyasov stopped Franco Ocampo in the fourth round on the DAZN-streamed undercard. 

“Notably, Giyasov previously stepped aside to allow a unification bout between Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis, despite being next in line for a title shot,” the WBA stated in a ruling made public on Tuesday. “Per WBA rules, Ennis must face Giyasov within 120 days of his April 12 victory over Stanionis.”

Ennis has since been upgraded to “super” champion status by the WBA, which – as previously reported by this writer – has allowed a secondary version of the belt to be at stake for the Garcia-Romero fight. The winner will claim the WBA “world” title along with an immediate shot at the primary title.

“According to WBA Rule C.17: “In exceptional circumstances, the Championships Committee and the President may designate a Champion as a Super Champion; and may establish criteria for a Super Championship,” the sanctioning body stated. “The Committee and President may determine conditions and requirements of defenses and retention of such title.

“Acting within its regulatory authority, the WBA has elevated Ennis to Super Champion status, while Garcia and Romero will battle for the vacant WBA World Welterweight Championship – adding even more heat to an already explosive 147-pound division.”

The double-stacked mandatories all but kills any hopes for Ennis to further unify at welterweight. It will likely also end his stay in the division, as his time at 147lbs was conditional on his getting a chance to become undisputed champion. 

Should Ennis abandon his “super” title either before or after his fight with Giyasov, the Garcia-Romero winner will be recognized as the primary WBA welterweight titleholder.

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.