Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is hoping to become the undisputed super-welterweight world champion within the next 12 months, but has to dethrone Josh Kelly and Sebastian Fundora to do so.
Former unified welterweight world champion and Fundora opponent, Keith Thurman, has advised the Philadelphian on how to overcome ‘The Towering Inferno’.
Standing at an enormous 197cm, Fundora was the tallest world champion in the sport – despite boxing at 154lbs – up until Filip Hrgovic’s recent IBF heavyweight world title win. Since a 2023 loss to Brian Mendoza, the unorthodox WBC titleholder has put together a string of four victories and may well be the final obstacle for Ennis to secure all four belts.
First, ‘Boots’ is set to take on IBF world champion, Josh Kelly, with that bout expected to go ahead in January. Victory for either man puts them in line for a historic clash for the undisputed throne against Fundora.
Speaking with FightHype, Thurman – who lost to Fundora via sixth-round TKO back in March – informed Ennis that his best chance of overcoming the Floridian is by looking for the knockout rather than trying to outbox the imposing champion.
“There is no evidence that Boots is going to win, right? There is no evidence.
“Sebastian Fundora is an obstacle course. Styles make fights, this is boxing. For anybody who is going to really beat Fundora, it is best to have that one-punch ability.
“Even when Fundora lost, he didn’t lose by losing any rounds. I don’t see somebody going in a 12-round fight with Sebastian Fundora, taking nine rounds from Sebastian and Sebastian not being able to get the rounds in because of his style, his volume and his work behind the jab.”
As Ennis is focused on Kelly for now, Fundora is set to make a fourth defence of his WBC belt on Saturday night, as he takes on undefeated mandatory challenger, Ermal Hadribeaj, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
