Promoter Eddie Hearn says WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. turned down “extra” than $1.5 million for a unification struggle in opposition to IBF champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Norman Jr’s dad, Brian Sr, says the primary provide was lower than one-third of what Boots made for David Avanesyan final July. “It was slightly bit greater than what you gave David Avanesyan, and my son is a world champion,” mentioned Brian Sr. on social media.
Hearn’s Ulterior Motives?
Brian Sr says Hearn didn’t wish to make the struggle. He simply wished to undergo the motions to fake he was attempting to make the Boots-Norman Jr struggle in order that he may return to Boots later and say that he tried.
Some followers imagine Hearn’s actual curiosity is making the Boots vs. Karen Chukhadzhian rematch. In addition they imagine Hearn desires to match Boots in opposition to his fighter, Conor Benn, for an in-house Matchroom struggle. That’s the silver tuna for Hearn—the Karen rematch.
Not an Remoted Incident
It looks as if Hearn isn’t going to have the ability to be too tight-fisted to get the unification fights that Boots Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) wants for him to turn into the undisputed champion. Norman Jr. isn’t the one one who has complaints in regards to the low cash supplied to him by Hearn. WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis additionally talked about cash.
If Hearn doesn’t wish to pay the champions the going fee, Boots might as effectively overlook about staying at 147 to try to turn into undisputed as a result of it received’t occur.
He should transfer as much as 154 and overlook about turning into undisputed as a result of he’ll doubtless expertise the identical issues in that weight class. As an alternative of gathering belts, Boots ought to give attention to preventing one of the best guys at 154, be it Terence Crawford, Vergil Ortiz, Tim Tszyu and Israil Madrimov.
“The second provide was lower than half of what Boots made in his final struggle,” mentioned Norman Sr. in regards to the cash Hearn supplied him for a struggle in opposition to Ennis. “The third provide was half of what Boots made in his final struggle. So think about what Boots goes to make on this unification bout. Significantly greater than he made in his final struggle.
“You [Hearn] didn’t wish to make this struggle. The one cause you probably did was to inform Boots and his staff that you simply tried to make the struggle. You didn’t make the struggle. I gave [Boots’ dad] Bozy the numbers. I advised Bozy what it was. Bozy is aware of that’s bull,” mentioned Norman Sr.
The champions aren’t going to just accept $1 to 2 million to struggle Boots, particularly in the event that they’re underdogs. They’re able the place they’re more likely to lose their titles, and the cash that Hearn is providing doesn’t make it worthwhile. Norman Jr and the opposite two champions are 147, are higher off making title defenses and holding onto their belts for so long as doable. In the long term, they’ll earn much more cash than they might get from preventing Boots Ennis.
