This has been quite a week for boxing, from the rumored stance that the IBF has taken with Jai Opetaia ahead of Sunday’s Zuffa Boxing title fight to Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) signing a multi-year deal with ESPN. Although both were big news, they weren’t as significant as the judge ruling in favor of Golden Boy in their lawsuit against Vergil Ortiz Jr., which sent the case to an arbitrator. Given that, where does this leave Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis? Should he wait it out or take a fight with another big name at 154?
Vergil Ortiz Jr vs Jaron Ennis Is Headed to ‘Bolivian’?
I’m going to start by saying that I don’t have a law degree or pretend to be an expert in the field. When the judge made her decision this week in the case of Vergil Ortiz Jr vs. Golden Boy Promotions, all I could think was ‘there goes the Ortiz-Ennis fight.’ The case being sent to an arbitrator for a decision by September doesn’t look promising for that fight happening anytime soon.
There can be issues raised by either side that could cause further delays, ultimately leading to high legal fees, wasted time, and months of inactivity. I understand, Team Ortiz is standing by principles like Mikey Garcia, Andre Ward, and others did in the past when they took their promoters to court. However, considering how long those fighters sat on the sidelines, fans don’t want to see the same happen with Ortiz, who is just entering his prime.
Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) is eager to get back in the ring, and with the latest on the Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) case, he might have to go in a different direction. There’s a bit of irony there, as last year, when the Ortiz fight was offered, Ennis turned it down because he needed time to adjust to the new weight class. Now that he’s ready, Ortiz isn’t, which only frustrates the two fanbases who are eagerly waiting for the fight to happen. So what does Ennis do now?
Jaron Ennis’ Options Have To Be Big Names- No More Karen Types
There is no question that Ennis has world-class talent, as he earned two titles at welterweight before moving up to junior middleweight. The problem is that he has yet to score that signature win against a big name to firmly establish his reputation in the sport. Maybe he doesn’t need it. Can he avoid fighting big names and still succeed like Gervonta Davis? Davis’s appeal outside the ring allows him to be successful while taking less risky fights, but Ennis’s personality won’t permit him to do that.
The fans can be loud with their opinions when they want to be, and on social media, they have already reached the end of the rope with Ennis facing B-level opponents. If Ennis isn’t going to fight Ortiz because of the situation, then he needs to find a dance partner at 154 with a big name.
When considering the division, the first name that stands out to me is Jermell Charlo. The former undisputed junior middleweight champion never lost his titles, so he is still technically the man to beat at 154. Charlo has been vocal about being ready for a fight lately and has admitted he has yet to receive a callback. If Matchroom can make it worth his while, a fight between Ennis and Charlo in Philly would sell out the arena.
Another potential name could be unified champion, Xander Zayas. Although Zayas is considering fighting Josh Kelly in a matchup that would include three of the division’s titles, a fight between Ennis and Zayas would be a major event. I don’t think Zayas is likely to take a fight that doesn’t involve a title right now, but for the right price, I could see it happening. However, the purse would have to be very attractive to persuade Zayas to take such a risky fight.
Lastly, a fight with Israil Madrimov, although not as good as the other two options mentioned, would be a solid test for Ennis since Madrimov pushed Terence Crawford to his limits. If Ennis can decisively beat Madrimov, it would send a clear message to the rest of the division that Ennis is a force at 154.
Holding on to Hope
There is still a part of me that thinks, with everything going on, we’ll still manage to get Ortiz-Ennis, just later this year. Hopefully, that’s the case because we don’t want to add this fight to boxing’s long list of “What if” fights. A list that’s longer than it needs to be. Let’s get this one done.
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