Eddie Hearn mentioned immediately that Jaron ‘Boot’ Ennis will both be preventing in a unification subsequent in March or April 2025 or in a “big fight” at 147.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn reiterated the rationale Boots, 27, didn’t settle for the supply to combat WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. for February twenty second as a result of he didn’t need to “vacate” his IBF welterweight title.
That excuse doesn’t fly as a result of Boots simply made a compulsory protection towards Karen Chukhadzhian on November ninth and may transfer as much as 154 for one combat with out dropping his belt. So, both Hearn and Boots are both unaware of that, or they’re being disingenuous. It’s exhausting to consider that Hearn wouldn’t concentrate on Ennis having simply made a compulsory protection.
Hearn didn’t say who the individual can be in a combat for Boots (33-0, 29 KOs), but it surely must be somebody not presently within the welterweight division. There aren’t any widespread fighters at 147.
U.S. followers wouldn’t contemplate Conor Benn a “big fight.” He’s not seen as a severe expertise. He’s extra of a celebrity-type fighter, in the identical boat as Chris Eubank Jr and Tommy Fury.
Ennis’ Subsequent Transfer
“Boots never decided he was going to 154. ‘It might go to 154.’ I felt it was a bit of a flat performance,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Ok.O. Artist Sports activities about Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. “He went away on vacation for 2 weeks. We began to obtain some provides for him to combat [Vergil] Ortiz.
“I spoke to Boots, and went back to them [the Saudis] 24 hours later. I said, ‘You might want to check. This is at 147.’ I came back a day later, ‘It’s at 154.’ I said, ‘No problem. Let me go and talk to Boots.’ I came back. We had 48 hours to make a decision. I said to Boots, ‘You got to make a decision.’ ‘Oh, when?’ ‘Now. Do you want to vacate the belt [IBF welterweight] and move to 154?’ The reason we took the [Karen] Chukhadzhian fight, which cost me a lot of money, and it was a fight that I didn’t want to do because he told me how much he wanted to fight the other champions at 147.”
Irrespective of how a lot Hearn talks, it nonetheless appears 100% apparent that Boots ducked the combat with Vergil Ortiz as a result of he would have made some huge cash and acquired enormous publicity for his profession. Beating Vergil would enhance Ennis’ recognition, and he could possibly be a PPV attraction, opening the door for different huge fights at 154.
He’s talked about desirous to combat Terence Crawford up to now. Beating Vergil would assist Ennis attain that objective, or no less than transfer him a bit of nearer.
“So, I know that already. Basically, he said to me, ‘I’d rather stay at 147,” mentioned Hearn about Ennis. “‘If I move to 154, I’ll fight Vergil Ortiz in a heartbeat, but I don’t want to vacate the belt. I want to try and unify.’ That’s it. I know the social media swirl. ‘What?’ It’s not his [Ennis] weight class. He’s a world champion at 147.”
So there it’s. Ennis ducked Vergil. Hearn can’t spin the reality as a result of it’s in Boots’ personal phrases. He doesn’t need to combat Ortiz Jr.
“When he makes the move, he’ll take the fight. I like the fight, because I think he wins the fight, and I like Vergil. But if you’re going to move to 154, that’s the perfect fight for us, but he’s not going to move to 154,” mentioned Hearn.
“You can keep this interview on record and say, his next fight is going to be at 147. He’s not going to say in a month’s time, ‘Hi guys, I’m moving to 154.’ That’s not the case because if we were doing it, we’d have taken the offer and talent he fought. So, it’s 147 next.”
Nobody doubts that Ennis is staying at 147 as a result of Hearn has been saying it repeatedly. It received’t shock anybody that Boots is staying at welterweight. It will shock individuals if he moved as much as 154, however not if he stays at 147.
Massive Combat Assure
“He will either unify in March or April or be in a huge fight against a huge name. When we announce the fight, you guys will say, ‘Okay, fair enough.’ A lackluster performance Chukhadzhian] will help us land a Stanionis or a Norman or a Barrios because they may think they can win now,” mentioned Hearn.
The “huge fight” that followers would see as a giant one involving Ennis at 147 can be if Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney moved up in weight and fought him. That’s about it. Crawford isn’t returning to the division. There’s nobody else within the weight class that followers would view as a giant combat involving Ennis.
“He [Ennis] was a bit baffled by it,” mentioned Hearn about Boots being confused concerning the criticism he’s acquired,” mentioned Hearn. “We’ve been speaking to the Saudis for the final week or ten days. We spoke to his staff a bit of bit, however there was no determination to make till the supply got here in.
“The Saudis transfer in a short time. I’m closing fights on that card in three minutes when speaking to somebody. So, while you telephone Boots, and also you say, ‘We’ve had this supply. To dump your belt and transfer to a brand new weight class is sort of a giant determination.’ He’s like, ‘How soon do they want to know?’ ‘They probably want to know tonight, but I can problem string it out for a day or two.’
“He’s like, ‘I don’t actually know. I need to unify. Can we get the unification?’ ‘Actually, I believe, yes, we can get the unification.’ He mentioned, ‘That’s what I actually need to do.’ ‘Well, you’ve bought a call,’ and the choice was, ‘I’m staying at 147.’
“As soon as he does that, there’s no combat at 154, and we just like the combat. The truth is, Boots is a world champion, and to vacate and transfer up for a non-world championship combat as effectively. I do know the followers need it, however you even have to take a look at your individual profession and your path.
“He’s really frustrated, but I feel like once we announce the next fight, you guys will go, ‘Fair play. It makes sense,’” mentioned Hearn.
Boots must be annoyed with himself, as a result of he’s the one that’s turning down the combat with Vergil. It’s his fault. The combat supply is rumored to be $8 million for Ennis.
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Author : admin
Publish date : 2024-12-06 00:42:42
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