Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn says he might transfer as much as 154 for his subsequent battle if he can’t get a unification match in opposition to any of the champions at 147.
(Credit score: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Though Hearn feels optimistic about his probabilities of preventing one of many welterweight champions, Mario Barrios, Eimantas Stanionis, or Brian Norman Jr., that may be wishful considering.
Welterweight Unification: Unlikely for Ennis
These guys can make more cash by holding onto their titles for so long as attainable slightly than preventing a unification match in opposition to Boots (32-0, 29 KOs), by which they’d be clear underdogs with little hope of profitable.
If Hearn comes up empty at 147 for Boots, the proper battle for him at 154 can be in opposition to unbeaten Golden Boy-promoted Vergil Ortiz Jr.(21-0, 21 KOs). He fights on DAZN and will quickly maintain the WBC interim junior middleweight title if he dethrones Serhii Bohachuk of their conflict on August tenth on the Mandalay Bay Lodge in Las Vegas.
Boots, 27, seemed large final Saturday night time in his title protection in opposition to David Avanesyan on the Wells Fargo Heart in Philadelphia. Ennis has sufficient measurement to simply transfer as much as 154 to tackle Vergil for the WBC interim title or one of many different champions within the weight class.
154-Pound Alternatives: A Deep Expertise Pool
There are additionally many proficient contenders at 154 for Boots Ennis to battle, like considered one of these fighters:
– Xander Zayas
– Erickson Lubin
– Tim Tszyu
– Errol Spence
– Josh Kelly
– Jesus Ramos
– Magomed Kurbanov
– Charles Conwell
The variety of proficient fighters obtainable for Boots Ennis to battle at 154 is countless, and he might put himself in compelling fights for a few years, rising his reputation excess of if he stays at 147.
“Unification fights are going to be tough [at 147] for Boots Ennis, however how a few battle at 154?” mentioned Chris Mannix to DAZN Boxing about choices for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ subsequent battle. “Vergil Ortiz is again on DAZN on August tenth [against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk].”
Golden Boy’s Protectionism
Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya is a shrewd decide of expertise, and he’ll know that Vergil Ortiz Jr. can be over his head preventing Boots Ennis. It’s not possible that De La Hoya would throw Vergil Jr. in with this shark and watch him get devoured entire.
De La Hoya is aware of what he’s obtained in Vergil, and he’ll need to shield him from fighters like Boots Ennis, Terence Crawford, and Israil Madrimov at 154.
Realistically, if Boots goes to maneuver as much as 154, his finest choices for fights can be in opposition to Bohachuk, WBC/WBO champion Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu, and Lubin. Fighters like Vergil and Errol Spence probably received’t need something to do with him.
“I spent years hyping up and speaking a few Vergil in opposition to Boots battle,” mentioned Mannix “That battle must happen at 154. Vergil will not be coming again all the way down to 147. Eddie Hearn instructed me this week that if he can’t make a giant battle for Boots at welterweight, they’re able to go as much as junior middleweight,” Mannix continued.
If De La Hoya wished Vergil Ortiz to battle Boots Ennis, he would have completed so years in the past as an alternative of matching him in opposition to mushy opposition to construct a plastic synthetic 21-0 file crammed with the worst of the worst. De La Hoya has completed an admirable job of matching Vergil, however it’s apparent that he’s been maneuvered round Boots all these years, and that can probably proceed at 154.
“Vergil in opposition to Boots, that may be a can’t-miss battle any weight class,” mentioned hopeful-sounding Mannix.
Turki Alalshikh has a wonderful relationship with Terence Crawford. He has talked about this actual battle prior to now [against Boots Ennis]. If he involves the desk and says, ‘I’ve obtained cash to make Terence Crawford in opposition to Boots Ennis, both in Riyadh or the U.S.,’ that’s a makeable battle.”
That’s one other battle that Boots Ennis is unlikely to get within the foreseeable future. Crawford won’t battle the younger killer Boots Ennis till he will get the Canelo Alvarez payday in 2025.
That’s the silver tuna that Crawford is gunning for, and he received’t take a harmful battle and can probably lose in opposition to Ennis till he will get that battle.
“Cash talks on this enterprise. So, I believe it’s makeable,” mentioned Mannix. “If it’s not a Bud Crawford battle, you must have a look at the opposite welterweight champions. Mario Barrios and Eimantis Stanionis each of these guys are PBC affiliated. There was discuss of a unification battle between these two, however nothing as of but.”
None of these fights are lifelike for Boots Ennis. Norman is being positioned to battle Teofimo Lopez by High Rank, they usually received’t let an Eddie Hearn-promoted fighter like Boots Ennis rip that WBO 147-lb title away from Norman Jr. as a result of they will earn money matching him in opposition to Teofimo.
“Brian Norman Jr., who’s the interim champion on the WBO, will probably be upgraded in some unspecified time in the future [to full WBO welterweight champion due to Crawford having moved up to 154]. There was extra discuss of Norman preventing Teofimo Lopez in some unspecified time in the future later this yr,” mentioned Mannix.
