Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn described the situation between his puncher Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and their super welterweight rival Vergil Ortiz, of Golden Boy Promotions, as “a bit of a mess” when speaking to DAZN on Saturday, February 28.
Though neither Ennis or Ortiz hold a world championship title in the division, a fight between them is one of the biggest offerings possible in American boxing, and yet legal disputes and political issues have compromised the bout from getting booked.
Their simmering rivalry almost spilled over following Ortiz’s latest win, a lightning quick knockout of Erickson Lubin, as Ennis stormed the ring and the two faced off for one of the most cinematic moments DAZN has aired for the US market.
But since that moment earlier in the year talks have failed to yield the super fight. It’s left Hearn and Matchroom brass considering “other plans … if this doesn’t fall into place.”
It’s clear, though, that that he has a preferred fight.
“If we ever got it made, the strapline will simply be: ‘The greatest fight in American boxing.’ Because that’s what it is — two pound-for-pound greats in their absolute prime.”
Hearn said he’d been working on the Ennis vs Ortiz fight “for months and months” and refused to “give in.”
“You’re talking about the two best 154-pounders on the planet. Let’s find out who the No.1 is right now.”
“The boxing world is just waiting for the news to drop. Fingers crossed.”
To reporters at the post-fight press conference, Hearn said: “This week or the next few days is the last opportunity to make the Vergil Ortiz fight.”
He then reiterated his fighter’s options, and their ideal: “If we can’t get Vergil Otiz, the primary target is Xander Zayas. And that’s a big fight. And of course Josh Kelly, also a Matchroom fighter, just won the IBF world title, so that’s an opportunity as well.
“I’d like to do Boots against Vergil Ortiz, Xander Zayas against Josh Kelly, and the winner’s fight each other.”
If a fight between Ennis and Ortiz were to get over the line, it would rival another American super fight, with Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney talking up their own big bout that same night.
The welterweight rivals fought before, with Garcia dropping Haney thrice en route to a competitive decision win which was later changed retrospectively to a No Contest, after Garcia tested positive twice for the banned substance Ostarine.
Both have since rebounded with statement wins and find their lives entwined once again as both feel like they have unsettled business.
Haney called it “the perfect fight to be made.”
Garcia said it’s “the fight of the summer.”
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