Golden Boy promoter Bernard Hopkins ensures that Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will combat in 2025. He feels that “greed” and “politics” gained’t forestall that matchup from occurring subsequent yr. Followers are satisfied that Ennis ducked Vergil Jr. as a result of he misplaced his convention after his poor displaying in his rematch towards Karen Chukhadzhian on November ninth.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Is Ennis Avoiding Ortiz Jr.?
If this isn’t worry on Boots’ half for not agreeing to combat Ortiz, he wants to maneuver as much as 154 as a result of nothing goes to occur for him by staying at 147. He says he’s staying at welterweight as a result of he desires Eddie Hearn to arrange the fights towards the champions.
It’s not occurring, and he doesn’t appear to see issues for what they’re. Hearn has failed and can proceed to fail at establishing the fights Ennis wants towards the opposite champions. Until Turki Alalshikh helps out, Hearn gained’t produce the cash wanted to arrange the unification fights Boots is asking for.
Successful these belts won’t make Ennis extra in style as a result of followers don’t know who the champions are at 147. The three champions that Boots must combat to change into undisputed are full unknowns, and he can acquire nothing by beating them.
That’s why he can be higher off transferring as much as 154 and taking over Vergil Jr. for his WBC interim title. After all, that’s if the rationale he’s not combating him is worry, which could possibly be the actual motive.
Dropping to Ortiz Jr. would wreck Ennis’ career, sabotaging the income stream that has been flowing in with out him ever being examined towards A-level or elite-level fighters. He could also be only a hype job, which is why he appeared so poor in his two fights towards Karen Chukhadzhian and in his matches towards David Avanesyan and Roiman Villa.
Cash and politics had nothing to do with the combat not occurring on February twenty second. Boots (33-0, 29 KOs) and WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs) usually are not combating. Ennis, 27, determined he didn’t need to transfer as much as 154 as a result of he wished to remain at 147 to proceed his tireless quest to unify the welterweight division.
Ennis simply doesn’t appear to know. He gained’t be capable of get the fights he wants at 147 as a result of the champions don’t need to lose their belts with out being paid an infinite sum of money. Hopkins’ optimistic outlook for a combat between Ennis and Ortiz Jr. subsequent yr is naive, and he doesn’t see the actual drawback—cash or lack of it.
“Whether or not it was Boots’ group or Golden Boy, that combat will probably be demanded by the followers, and the cash and the chance will current themselves. They gained’t be capable of say no,” stated Bernanrd Hopkins to Fighthpe a couple of combat between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. “The combat will occur [in 2025].
“The timing wasn’t appropriate for both sides. They nonetheless should cross paths with one another earlier than they go to the following stage,” stated Hopkins about Ortiz and Ennis. “I assure you fights which can be purported to occur, will occur.”
Hearn’s Position And Challenges
Some followers imagine Boots is obsessive about unifying the 147-lb division. He doesn’t grasp that his promoter, Eddie Hearn, can not arrange fights towards the opposite champions. If Ennis’ identify was Anthony Joshua, Hearn would have higher luck getting the combat, as a result of he would produce the cash to get the fights that AJ is demanding.
Boots shouldn’t be Joshua by way of reputation, and the unification fights he’s asking for are unlikely to occur in 2025, 2026, or 2027. He’ll age and don’t have anything to point out relating to the valuable belts he’s pursuing.
