Eimantas Stanionis’ recent professional journey can only be described as a series of unfortunate events. After basking in the glory of becoming a world champion on April 16th, 2022, the Lithuanian contender’s career has been marred by disappointment. His win, a pivotal point in his career, was expected to pave the way for numerous opportunities. However, the first defense of his WBA “Regular” title was foiled when his opponent, Vergil Ortiz Jr., pulled out due to physical unfitness. This left Stanionis, who was primed for battle, without an opponent on fight week.
Being inactive for nearly a year and a half has been a dampener for the undefeated Stanionis. Eager to get back in the ring, he is scanning the welterweight division for a suitable contender. His search might just end with Jaron Ennis, who recently mentioned Stanionis after his brutal knockout victory over Roiman Villa on the same night Stanionis was scheduled to face Ortiz. Responding to this, Stanionis expressed interest in facing Ennis, highlighting his readiness to take on any challenger.
However, this eager acceptance doesn’t necessarily spell a wise decision for Stanionis. Ennis, in contrast to Stanionis’ forced hiatus, has been on a fighting spree, competing three times in the same period. The inactivity may have led to a layer of rust on Stanionis’ skills. The Lithuanian fighter acknowledged that it would be prudent to face a lesser-known opponent before jumping into the fray with the more challenging Ennis. But, Stanionis’ disdain for easy matchups makes him determined to go ahead, as he states, “Maybe it’s not smart, I was off for a long time. I just want to fight. I don’t like tune-ups.” Only time will reveal whether this determination will pay off.
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