WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis says his administration was by no means contacted by Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ workforce when he selected to show down a proposal to maneuver as much as 154 to problem Vergil Ortiz Jr. for his WBC interim title on the February twenty second card in Riyadh.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Boots Dodging Unification?
Stanionis says it doesn’t look good that IBF welterweight champion Boots (33-0, 29 KOs) selected to not combat Vergil Jr. at 154. He’d heard that Ennis needed to remain at 147 and unify the division, so why didn’t he try and combat him in a unification?
Stanionis says he’s NOT been contacted for a unification combat towards Ennis, and now he’s listening to that Boots could combat Teofimo Lopez subsequent.
Stanionis asks what that claims about Ennis. The Philadelphia native Boots turns down the Vergil Ortiz Jr. combat at 154, and but he’s not seeking to make unification fights at 147 both. That feeds into the beliefs that Boots’ critics maintain about him. They see him as risk-averse, missing ambition, and solely all in favour of taking winnable fights towards Karen Chukhadzhian, David Avanesyan, and Roiman Villa.
Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) says he’ll maintain busy along with his profession and hopes to combat on the undercard of Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach on March 1st on the Barclays Middle in Brooklyn, New York. The occasion shall be proven on PBC on Prime Video PPV.
“I’m focusing on for that and hoping for that. So, we’ll see,” mentioned Eimantas Stanionis to YSM Sports activities Media about eager to combat on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach card on March 1st.
“We’re right here to show who’s one of the best. I can combat at 140, 147, or 154. It doesn’t matter. Any three divisions. If I get a possibility, I’ll bounce it. I need to be a throwback fighter, like the place all people fights each two to throw months.
“I wouldn’t need to be in his footwear as a result of after the [Karen Chukhadzhian] combat, he mentioned he would possibly go to 154 for the correct opponent. So, I believe Vergil Ortiz was the correct opponent.
Ennis reportedly turned down a career-high payday for the Vergil Jr. combat on February twenty second, and that makes him look worse. If Boots goes to remain at 147 and combat mild welterweight Teofimo Lopez as an alternative of one of many champions, then his entire purpose for turning down the Vergil Jr. combat goes up in smoke. Then, it turns into apparent to followers that he lacked the braveness to take that combat for concern of dropping.
Stanionis: “Ennis Might Have Referred to as”
“So, I don’t know what occurred. Eddie [Hearn] additionally mentioned they could go to 154 for a giant combat,: mentioned Stanionis about Ennis. “Once they received the provide [for the Vergil Jr. fight], I don’t know what it was inside. From the surface, it doesn’t look good.
“Yeah, if he desires to remain at 147, I perceive, however wanting from the fence, I additionally admire him. When he [Ennis] didn’t take the combat [with Vergil], his individuals may have known as us. I’d be leaping in. No one known as us,” mentioned Stanionis about Boots Ennis’ promoter by no means contacting his administration about making a unification combat.”
Hearn wants to point out followers that he’s giving gives to the opposite champions at welterweight to combat Boots as a result of it doesn’t look good that Stanionis is saying that he wasn’t contacted by Ennis’ workforce a few combat. Why would he lie about this?
If he says he hasn’t been contacted, it reveals that Boots isn’t all in favour of welterweight and is simply staying at 147 to cover from the predators within the 154 division that will rapidly spoil his profession in the identical means Tim Tszyu’s profession has imploded, dropping his final two fights at junior middleweight.
“If he desires to remain at 147, he’s speculated to combat different champions. I see with Teofimo, they could combat. I don’t know what’s occurring. If he’s going to combat Teofimo, what does that inform you? That’s not 147, you already know?” mentioned Stanionis.
