Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis claims he didn’t know what was happening with the Vergil Ortiz Jr. state of affairs when he opted to not comply with struggle him on His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s February twenty second Riyadh Season card.
In an interview, Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) initially mentioned it was a “miscommunication,” and he wasn’t within the loop for the Vergil Jr. talks. Nevertheless, in the identical interview, Ennis admits that he selected to not struggle Ortiz as a result of he needed to remain at 147 and attempt to unify the division.
Curiously, when Boots was requested about his earlier remarks about being prepared to go as much as 154 to struggle Terence Crawford, he mentioned that’s totally different as a result of he’s a future Corridor of Famer. So, he would transfer as much as 154, however he must be a large struggle in opposition to Crawford.
Followers nonetheless assume Ennis ducked Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs), contemplating he would have gotten an enormous payday and elevated his possibilities of getting a struggle with Crawford.
If Boots moved as much as junior middleweight, he would at the very least have an opportunity of getting that struggle. Staying at 147 offers him no alternative as a result of he’s in a special weight class, combating much less widespread fighters.
“Out Of The Loop”
“I reached out to everyone concerned to get all the way down to the underside of what was happening and it was a bunch of miscommunication. I obtained an ideal crew, and I employed them to do their job, however I simply felt like I used to be out of the loop. Any longer, I will likely be extra in tune of what’s happening,” mentioned Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to YSM Sports activities Media, claiming he didn’t know what was happening when with the Vergil Ortiz Jr. struggle that he selected to not take.
“They known as on the deadline [for the February 22nd card], and I used to be undecided,” mentioned Ennis about why he didn’t take the struggle with Vergil Jr. “I wish to unify or be undisputed. Everyone was calling me an ‘Electronic mail champion’ as a result of I used to be by no means capable of take a title from any individual. I used to be given a belt. I by no means obtained that feeling of successful a world title and taking it from any individual,” mentioned Boots.
That sounds weak from Ennis, who says that he desires to remain at 147 as a result of he NEVER received a world title from anyone and was emailed his IBF belt. The issue is that the three different welterweight champions are extremely regarded. They’re seen as paper champions with no fan base and received’t assist Boots’ recognition if he does beat them.
One other drawback is all of the champions are tied up at 147, they usually’re not going free. In the event that they do turn into out there, Boots’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, would wish to satisfy their asking value. He failed to do this with WBO champion Brian Norman Jr., Mario Barrios, or WBA champ Eimantas Stanionis. If Ennis stays at 147 in 2025, it’s doable that Hearn received’t have the ability to arrange a unification struggle for him.
“Terence Crawford is a future Corridor of Famer,” mentioned Ennis, when requested why he’d be prepared to go as much as 154 to struggle Crawford if given the chance however NOT Vergil Ortiz Jr. “It’s the identical factor him attempting to get Canelo. Going as much as 168 and solely combating Canelo, however no one else at 168. It’s the identical factor.”
If Ennis is prepared to maneuver as much as 154 to struggle Crawford, he ought to have moved as much as struggle Vergil as a result of it appears dangerous that he selected to not struggle him on Turki’s card on February twenty second.
Validation At 147
“2025, my subsequent bout is a unification. Like I mentioned earlier than. I obtained to get my arms on a kind of belts [at 147],” mentioned Ennis. “I obtained to get that feeling from taking a belt from any individual. I’ve but to really feel that feeling, and I really feel like that’s what I would like for my profession and my legacy.
“I would like that feeling from taking a belt from any individual. I really feel like that may stamp myself. I’ll really feel higher about myself at 147,” mentioned Ennis.
