Welterweight contender Roiman Villa will face rising star Jaron Ennis on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Villa, rated No. 9 by The Ring at 147-pounds, was only too happy to accommodate Ennis when opportunity came his way.

“This is the fight I wanted,” Villa (26-1, 24 knockouts) told The Ring through manager Alejandro Torres. “My promoter [Sampson Lewkowicz] gave us the option to have a tune up fight but I did not want any other fighter. To be the best, you have to fight the best fighter and I am ready to fight anyone.”

The 30-year-old Venezuelan, who has spent two-months training in Los Angeles with my trainer Rene Ordorica, isn’t intimidated by Ennis superlative ability inside the ring.

“He is a good fighter but I know I am stronger than him and that he has never fought a fighter like me,” he explained. “I am ready to use this as an advantage.

“I am not impressed by his skills or afraid of his power.”

It’s not surprising Villa has little regard for Ennis when you know his humble beginning.

Villa grew up in the farm town of Rosario, in the north east of Venezuela, 60 miles from Maracaibo. He was one of eight boys, who were all forced to train by their father. As one of the youngest Villa had to stand up to his elder brothers.

Young Roiman grew up training in the backward underneath a mango tree. He went on to win five national amateur titles going 149-7 in the unpaid ranks.

The power-puncher made his professional debut with a first-round knockout in January 2015. He reeled off 19 straight victories before losing a debatable decision to Marcos Villasana (SD 12) in April 2019. He then began working with Torres in Colombia later that year.

The pair then linked up with Sampson Lewkowicz in 2021. Which helped open doors and saw Villa score upset wins over previously unbeaten and well-regarded duo Janelson Bocachica (UD 8) and Rashidi Ellis (MD 12).

The coming out party against Ellis was particularly noteworthy and set down a marker to the 147-pound division.

“I have a lot of confidence in God and I will never surrender on my dream of being a world champion,” he said of the Ellis win. “I always see myself as the winner every time I enter the ring. So, I expected to win that fight without any doubt even though I had to give it all until the last minute.”

He expects a similar result against Ennis.

“In this fight, I am ready to go strong every round,” he proclaimed. “[I’m] ready to give the boxing fans a huge fight.”

Torres knows this is a step up for his fighter but feels it’s one he is ready for.

“This is a life changing opportunity for Roiman’s career,” said Torres. “It is no secret that Jaron Ennis is one of the most important welterweights prospects of the world and we know that Roiman is ready to win this fight.

“The time has come to show the world who Roiman Villa really is and where he stands in the welterweight division.”

Ennis (30-0, 27 knockouts), The Ring’s No. 3 ranked welterweight, learned to box from a young age, in Philadelphia, with his father and brothers. “Boots” has an elite mix of power and speed that has been a nightmare for anyone he’s faced so far.

The brilliant switch-hitter, who may be the next big star in the division, has brutally dispatched former junior welterweight titleholder Sergey Lipinets (KO 6), as well as fighters such as Thomas Dulorme (KO 1) and Custio Clayton (KO 2).

Ennis-Villa will be broadcast on Showtime beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].

Follow @AnsonWainwright