Jamaica Gleaner

‘I want to take the time’

Ennis willing to be patient about budding profession­al career

- Livingston Scott/Gleaner Writer livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

AFTER HIS devastatin­g profession­al debut win over Argentinia­n Marcelo Adrian Fernande in a light-heavyweigh­t contest at the Pickering Casino Resort on the weekend, boxer Jerone ‘The Beast’ Ennis says he will not be hasty about building his career.

The 26-year-old stopped Fernande one minute and 51 seconds into the first round of their four-round contest, as he transition­ed impressive­ly from amateur to profession­al boxing.

He said also that the type of support he has around him now has given him the confidence to work hard and produce good results.

Neverthele­ss, he wants to take his time to correct his flaws and get a better understand­ing of the adjustment­s he will have to make at this level.

“I am looking forward to rise through the ranks,” said the two-time Caribbean amateur champion.

“A lot of improvemen­ts needed to get up the ranking, maybe top 400, 200 within my next fight.

“But I am in no rush, even though all the fans in Canada are excited, and they loved the fight and the explosiven­ess.”

According to Ennis, being a new fighter in North America, the fans knew nothing about him and never expected a first-round knockout, which has got them all wanting to see more.

“Now that they have seen the first-round knockout, they are all excited. But I have let the promoter and managerial team know this is not about the rush.

“I want to take the time to know the game, because this is going into a different level.

“So I want to take the time to learn and understand the sport. That is my main focus right now.

“So even though I am eager to rise through the ranks, at the said time, I want to be patient and learn and eventually it (title) will happen one day,” he said.

He added that even though he still does not have a manager at this time, Tyler Buxton’s United Boxing Promotions has been thorough in handling all aspects of his career thus far.

“My team gave me all the confidence going into the fight. And I went in there with my confidence as well.

“My promoter is all about his boxers. He has been doing it for years. He knows what he is doing.

“So having the right promotion team has given me that push. I don’t have a manager as yet but (that is) soon to come. But my promoter let me feel like I have a manager because he acts more than a promoter. He is like a promoter/manager.

“My coach Sakima Mulling also brought me through various training sessions to get me ready.”

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? Jerone Ennis (left) walks back to his corner after knocking down Argentinia­n Marcelo Adrian Fernande in a light-heavyweigh­t boxing contest at the Pickering Casino Resort on Saturday night.
CONTRIBUTE­D Jerone Ennis (left) walks back to his corner after knocking down Argentinia­n Marcelo Adrian Fernande in a light-heavyweigh­t boxing contest at the Pickering Casino Resort on Saturday night.

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