JOSH Kelly remains hopeful that a potential showdown with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis can be salvaged, while his manager and trainer, Adam Booth, waits for a revised offer.
News of their super-welterweight matchup emerged on social media just two days ago, shortly after Eddie Hearn revealed that both parties had engaged in talks.
The Matchroom Boxing boss, who promotes Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), also hinted that a date in October is being explored for the former unified welterweight champion’s first assignment at 154lbs.
Before announcing his move up in weight, the American produced a glittering performance to dethrone Eimantas Stanionis and, in turn, combine the IBF and WBA world titles.
But now, it would appear that ‘Boots’ is eager to secure his super-welterweight debut before long, with Kelly, 17-1-1 (9 KOs), who comes off a one-round blowout, representing a possible opponent.
Since his sixth-round stoppage defeat to David Avanesyan in 2021, the 31-year-old has amassed two notable wins, outpointing both Ishmael Davis and Troy Williamson, while also climbing up the sanctioning body rankings.
More specifically, ‘Pretty Boy’ has now cemented himself as the WBO’s leading contender, with Ennis, meanwhile, sitting just one place behind him.
But despite that clear pathway – with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for Xander Zayas – their mooted fight nonetheless appears to be a long way off from materialising.
According to Booth, the 24-hour deadline to submit his response, which is all he was afforded after receiving an initial offer, has now come to pass.
Yet still, the head coach hopes that, with a greater amount of time at his disposal, he can, at the very least, attempt to negotiate a deal that makes sense for both fighters.
“I spoke to Matchroom’s lawyer, who made us an offer,” Booth told Boxing News. “It was less than half of what Josh has previously earned for a 10-round fight.
“While the money doesn’t justify the fight, I was then told that we had 24 hours to make up our minds, because they’ve got other options, but I’m not going to negotiate with one hand tied behind my back.
“An hour after that conversation, I then saw it pop up on social media. Eddie’s obviously trying to apply that public pressure on Josh to accept the fight for a low-ball purse.
“Josh will take the ‘Boots’ Ennis fight, just make me the right offer. Eddie knows, and I know, what that fight is worth.
“You can get out of a fight by outpricing yourself, but equally, you can publicly call someone out for not wanting the fight after offering them something that’s stupidly low. That seems to be playing out here.”
When asked about a potential clash with Ennis, Kelly said: “They’ve got to come back to us with a proper offer, the correct offer, and Eddie should get in contact with Adam, instead of going through lawyers and the media.
“For a fight of that magnitude – and with me being a big name in the UK – they’ve got to make us the right offer.
“But straight away, the media has gotten hold of it and is just running with it, yet there’s no sense or truth behind it.
“I’m at the right weight category now to really fulfil my potential and prove myself against these names.
“Me and [Ennis] have got similar styles, and I’d love to take on that challenge. If it’s in Philadelphia, or in his home town, then f*** it – I don’t mind going over there.”
