Eddie Hearn says negotiations are underway for a battle between WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in Saudi Arabia. The Matchroom promoter Hearn states that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh might be key to finishing the Ortiz Jr. vs. Ennis mega-fight negotiations.
IBF welterweight champion Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) must transfer up from 147 to 154 to make the battle occur with the 26-year-old Vergil Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs). Hearn says he would favor that Ennis keep at 147 to battle the opposite champions in unification matches, but when the “proper alternative” presents itself, they’ll take it.
Making a transfer as much as 154 would require braveness on Boots Ennis’ half, as he’s grown accustomed to being a giant fish in a small, empty pond at 147. Combating Vergil Jr. at 154 in Saudi Arabia would put Ennis in a scenario the place he may get uncovered if issues go badly for him in opposition to the unbeaten WBC interim champion.
Ennis vs. Ortiz Jr. Negotiations “Going On”
The smart owl Hearn is aware of that it could be dangerous for Ennis, 27, to maneuver as much as junior middleweight to face a expertise like Vergil Ortiz Jr. in his first battle within the weight class with out getting acclimated beforehand.
In fact, Hearn has talked incessantly about his perception that Ennis is likely one of the finest fighters on the planet, saying to Sports activities Illustrated, “Jaron Ennis is the most effective fighter on this planet pound for pound, bar none.” If Ennis really “The Greatest fighter” on this photo voltaic system, he should be keen to maneuver up one division to problem Vergil Jr. for his WBC interim belt.
“There’s negotiations happening behind the scenes for a possible Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz already in Saudi,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Boxing Information about talks having begun for a conflict between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Vergil Jr’s Benefits over Ennis
- Energy: The facility is clearly on Vergil Jr’s aspect. He punches more durable with each palms, and is devastating when going to the physique.
- Expertise: Boots has by no means fought at 154, and he’ll be dealing with a man who has been preventing the division for the final three contests.
- Ring Smarts: We noticed in Ortiz Jr’s battle in opposition to WBC interim champion Serhii Bohachuk that he may make changes to win. We hadn’t seen that with Ennis. In his hardest profession battle in opposition to Karen Chukhadzhian, Boots by no means made any adjustments to his sport and struggled in opposition to a fighter he ought to have blown out if he’d been capable of change to a plan B
- Toughness: Vergil Jr’s battle in opposition to Bohachuk confirmed that he’s harder than Ennis, as a result of the photographs he took in that conflict would have been devasting for Boots.
- Mobility: Ennis doesn’t transfer the way in which that Vergil Jr. does, and it appears extra flat-footed.
- Youth: At 26, Vergil Jr is a yr youthful than the 27-year-old Boots Ennis, however he appears younger than the Philadelphia native, with the looks of an individual in his early 20s. These two would possibly as nicely be a decade aside as a result of Vergil appears lots youthful.
“I feel Bozy could be referring to an earlier time after we appeared to make the battle when the unique obligatory was referred to as, and we have been deciding whether or not we have been going to do it,” mentioned Hearn. “Ortiz in opposition to Ennis is a large battle, and it’s in all probability going to take His Excellency to give you a quantity to get that in.”
Ortiz-Ennis could be a wonderful headliner for one in all His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s playing cards in Saudi Arabia. It will require that Boots surrender on his aim of changing into the undisputed welterweight champion as a result of as soon as he strikes as much as 154, it might be tough to return to the 147-lb division.
Ennis Might Be Higher At 154
“So, we’re individually negotiating for the time being relating to that battle,” mentioned Hearn. “It’s not performed. In fact, our [Boots Ennis] choice is to remain and battle a champion at 147, but when the fitting alternative comes for us to battle Ortiz, we’re all in for that battle as nicely.
“It’s a weight division past what he’s [Ennis] is working for the time being,” mentioned Hearn about Boots not having fought at 154 and must transfer as much as face probably the greatest fighters within the weight class. “I really suppose Boots goes to get higher as he goes up the divisions.”
As you’ll be able to inform from Hearn’s feedback, he’s not overly passionate about Ennis probably transferring as much as 154 to face Vergil Jr. Hearn is aware of what may occur to Ennis, which might wreck his plans of turning him into a large star at 147.
“Ortiz is a good fighter; it’s a firefight, and it’s a large battle. It will be large,” mentioned Hearn a few battle between Ennis and Vergil Jr.
If Ennis wins, his reputation will soar in a single day, and he’d achieve rather more from beating Vergil Jr. than changing into undisputed at 147 in opposition to the present champions.
