EDDIE Hearn has all but confirmed Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ jump up to super-welterweight, clearing the path towards a potential mouth-watering showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr.
The unified world welterweight champion claimed his WBA strap, while also retaining his IBF belt, with an emphatic sixth-round stoppage victory over Eimantas Stanionis.
His display last April showcased ample signs of technical and physical prowess, all culminating in a destructive finish to cement his claim as the top dog at 147lbs.
But even so, Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn, his promoter, suspects that the best is yet to come, hoping that a move up to 154lbs will only elevate the 27-year-old’s performances.
Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), was previously in talks to face WBO world super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who, as it happens, has since removed himself from a possible clash with Devin Haney.
Yet now, it would appear that the Philadelphian is poised to relinquish his welterweight titles and instead chase an eagerly-awaited dustup with Ortiz, 23-0 (21 KOs).
While, according to Hearn, the Ortiz fight was initially earmarked for August, it now seems that Ennis will face an alternative opponent this summer, with his American rival representing an appealing option down the line.
“‘Boots’ is moving up [to 154lbs],” Hearn told FightHype. “After the Stanionis fight, he had his team around him – the doctors, the tests – and, what they’re basically saying is that ‘Boots’ is underperforming [at welterweight].
“It doesn’t take a genius to see that it’s hard work [for him to make 147lbs]. So, it’s very likely that [his] belts will become [vacant]. We’re going to meet this week and make a final decision.
“‘Boots’ will fight around August time – August [or] early September – and then we’ll make the Vergil Ortiz fight.”
Should Ennis relinquish his titles, it is highly likely that Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker – who, while occupying the leading IBF ranking positions, are set to enter a rematch this September – will collide for the vacant red and gold strap.
Shakhram Giyasov, meanwhile, should be elevated from interim to full WBA world champion, while Rolando Romero, on the other hand, continues to hold the sanctioning body’s ‘regular’ belt.
