Trainer Kenny Ellis is optimistic that the highly anticipated fight between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Virgil Ortiz Jr. will happen in due time.
Ennis, welterweight From Philadelphia See the upcoming boxing fight with Texas-born Ortiz on February 22 in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia Failure after failed negotiation It’s a development that has Ortiz accusing Ennis of avoiding him.
But answering questions about the fight not happening, Ellis told Fight Hype that it was only a matter of time until the fight happened.
“You can’t rush the fight and do something here that feels like you’re not ready or you don’t want to do it right now,” Ellis said.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Ennis, 33-0 (29 KO), is weighing his options after rejecting Ortiz’s claims that the IBF 147-pound champion could opt for a unified fight. before moving up to 154 to compete for the prestigious title
Ellis supports Ennis’ motion.
“He wants to defend at 147 and move up to 154. I don’t think he needs to move to 154 right now.”
Meanwhile, former WBA 154-pound champion Israel Madrimov has replaced Ennis as Ortiz’s opponent on the February 22 Riyadh Season card. Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol
When asked if the fight not happening would affect Ennis’ quest for greatness, Ellis said: “No, Boots can fight and doesn’t need what the world has to say.”
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist specializing in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column called “From The Ringside” in his home country of Ghana for many years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and by email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com–
