Eddie Hearn says a fight between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and interim WBC junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. he didn’t quite die for February 22nd. However, it doesn’t look good because Boots (33-0, 29 KOs) still wants to unify the welterweight division.
Hearn says the Ennis-Ortiz fight “Probably won’t happen,” but leaves it up to Boots to decide if he wants to take it. He says that when he spoke to Ennis, 28, asking him about his interest in facing Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KOs), talked about still wanting to unify the 147-lb division.
Based on Hearn’s conversation, he doubts the fight will happen between Jaron and Vergil Jr. Ennis holds the IBF welterweight title and wants to unify against the other three champions, which would be much easier fights for him than going against Ortiz, 26 years old, and risk taking a bad loss.
Boxing fans on social media believe that Boots is scared because he is coming off another poor performance against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9, and he would be facing one of the best fighters at 154 against Vergil Jr.
The chances of losing Ennis would be high, and he could even be eliminated. The KO by Vergil Jr. it will devastate Ennis’ career, and fans will no longer perceive him in the same light. He would go from being seen as a superstar to just another hype job, which is already perceived after his last performance against Karen.
“I’m still talking, but when I was offered the fight, I was at 147, which is obviously an excuse. Then we were told I was at 154, which is fine,” Eddie Hearn told the Stomping Groundrecapping the fallout of the failed negotiations between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
“It’s just timing, really. We have unification fights in the works, and Boots has decided to vacate the title and move on to fight (Ortiz Jr.) for no title (WBC interim 154).
“So, I’m not saying it’s completely dead, but in time, if they try to announce it today, it probably won’t happen. But it’s up to Boots, it’s up to him, and he hasn’t made a decision about his class of weight as well, but it is still inclined to try to unify, so it is probably the option.
“Maybe in the summer. For February 22, I’m not saying it’s completely dead, but it’s difficult to try to close the fight on Thanksgiving and saying to Boots: “You have to vacate your title (IBF welterweight) today “. It’s like, “What, I can’t unify?” “Well, you can, but we need an answer.” So, that was the conversation last night. So, we’ll see what happens.
“No, no. If he doesn’t fight Ortiz, he won’t fight until April,” Hearn said when asked if Boots Ennis could still fight on the February 22 card against another ” said Hearn.
