Negotiations have begun for a combat between IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (33-0, 39 KOs) and Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) for a twin community and promotion combat on DAZN & ESPN.
Deal In The Works
Teofimo’s promoter, Bob Arum of Prime Rank, instructed Boxingscene’s Lance Pugmire that he needs to make the combat for early 2025, presumably March 1st. Arum would work with Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, to finish this deal.
Hopefully, Boots is knowledgeable about what’s occurring, as he not too long ago complained that he was stored out of the “loop” when a combat in opposition to WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. was supplied to him for February twenty second on His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season card.
In accordance with Hearn, Ennis needed to remain at 147 to unify the division quite than go as much as 154 for a one-off in opposition to Vergil Jr. Boots gained’t have to fret about shifting up if he agrees to combat Teofimo. He could be coming as much as 147 to problem Ennis for his IBF belt.
So, there are not any points this time except Boots chooses to not take the combat as a result of he focuses on capturing all of the belts.
It’s a brave transfer on Teofimo’s half to go as much as 147 and instantly combat for a world title in opposition to Boots Ennis, who is taken into account to be the most effective within the division.
That reveals a whole lot of bravery on Lopez’s half. Ennis ought to attempt to emulate this conduct as a result of he seemed unhealthy, selecting to not transfer up for one combat in opposition to WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Jr. for the February twenty second card.
There’s no method to spin it to the place Boots appears good, and his excuse about not being within the loop isn’t gaining any traction with followers. If he’s disengaged from what’s occurring along with his profession, what does that say about him?
Welterweight Debut
Teofimo is in an excellent place the place he gained’t should cope with a lot of a backlash if he will get crushed by Ennis as a result of he’s shifting up in weight to face the #1 man within the division. Nobody can blame him if he loses to Boots. Not less than he can say he tried, which Ennis didn’t do when he was supplied to combat Vergil Jr. at 154.
Followers will nonetheless not forge Ennis for his failure to take the Ortiz combat. Beating Lopez gained’t be sufficient for followers to overlook what they view as an indication of cowardice from Boots. For him to make followers overlook, he’s going to have to maneuver up in weight to 154 and knock off one of many high canine, like Bakhram Murtazaliev or Terence Crawford.
