Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis discussed his failed negotiations with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. in an interview today. Ennis says he is still hopeful that the fight can be made.
Ennis wants Norman Jr. must accept his promoters’ offer for a November 9 clash in Philadelphia. Brian Norman Sr. says they were offered $1.7 million, and he wants to add another $500,000 to that, bringing it to 2.2 million. He told thaboxingvoice: “Top Rank takes 25 off the top.”
They understandably want the deal sweetened, knowing the fight will sell out a 15,000-seat venue in Philadelphia and bring big ratings on DAZN and ESPN.
Given fans’ interest in an Ennis-Norman union, they’d be shooting themselves in the foot if they agreed to Eddie Hearn’s $1.7 million offer. The actual take home will be significantly less after taxes and Top Rank’s money is taken out. Fans want to see Hearn sweeten the offer for whatever Norman asks.
Hearn doesn’t seem to understand that if he wants Ennis to have the opportunity to become undisputed champion at 147, he will have to dig deep to pay the champions. They are not going to agree to the chicken feed he offers them. These guys are world champions, and it doesn’t make sense for them to agree to lowball offers to help Hearn protect his profit margins.
Ennis encourages Norman Jr to accept the offer
“We sent another offer, and they asked double. We’re trying our best to make this fight happen,” said Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis YSM Sports Mediatalking about the Brian Norman Jr. negotiations. “I don’t know if they’re looking for a retirement check or what. As I said. I’m here to collect belts. I’m here to be undisputed and collect all these belts and make these biggest fights happen.”
If Boots wants to go uncontested, he needs to put a fire under Hearn’s back to get him to meet Norman Jr’s asking price, because the $1.7 million offer isn’t going to get the job done. Even if it’s $3 million, Hearn has to find the funds somewhere. Boots isn’t going to become a star without beating talented fighters like Norman Jr. He needs this fight because he’s not going to become a PPV attraction by beating old-time fighters like David Avanesyan or rematching Karen Chukhadzhian.
“Legacy. I’m here to be undisputed to take over this weight division,” Boots said when asked what was most important to him, money or legacy. “Definitely,” Ennis said of the $1.5 million that is Norman’s biggest payday of his career. “I heard him say I’m not a big dog. If you think I’m not a big dog, why would you turn down your biggest payday multiple times? Let’s make this fight happen.
Brian Norman Jr. ‘s manager reveals tax implications
Norman Jr’s manager says the $1.5 million will be cut to $810,000 before taxes are removed. You can only imagine what will be left after the taxes are removed. If Norman Jr. left with less than half a million after taking out expenses and taxes from the $1.5 million, it’s hardly worth the fight, especially with the risk involved. If it was just a regular opponent that Norman was fighting, that kind of payday would make sense, but not for a fight of this magnitude,
“They talk too much, but they (Team Norman) do nothing. Sign their papers. Draw on the lines and stop hosting a show for Instagram and YouTube. Nobody wants to hear all that. Draw on the dotted line, make this fight happen. I want this fight. Let’s make it happen now,” Ennis said.
$1.5 million is chopped $810k (before tax). Bargain mo ‘money mane. #box
— Adrian Clark (@TheAdrianClark) 30 August 2024
