Undefeated IBF World Welterweight Champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis wants to stay at Welterweight to unify the titles. The only problem is that the three other organizations’ champions are unwilling to unite by fighting him.
Coming off an unimpressive but undisputed winner, you’d think one of the champions would be willing by now. Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, is possibly the busiest promoter in the world. Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz, Jr., 22-0, is rumored to have offered 21 fights. “We were never offered it, Bozy Ennis said. Ortiz is scheduled to face Israil Madrimov on February 22nd, 10-1-1, with 7 stoppages from Uzbekistan and California, coming off a close loss to Terence Crawford.
Welterweight possible opponents WBA champion Eimantas Stansonis, 15-0 with 9 stoppages, from Lithuania. “He is the best among the champions and would love to have that fight,” said Bozy Ennis. Also WBC Champion Brian ‘The Assassin ll’ Norman, Jr., 26-0 with 20 stoppages from Georgia, and WBC Interim Champion Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios, 29-2-1 with 13 stoppages from Texas.
The no. 3 IBF welterweight (No. 1 and 2 vacant) Jin Sasaki, 18-1-1 with 17 stoppages from Japan, is scheduled Jan. 24 to defend his WBO Asia-Pacific and Eastern and Pacific Boxing Federation titles against Shoki ‘ELPV’ Sakai , 29-14-3 with 15 shutouts from Japan.
If Ennis moves up in weight, he could face WBO super welterweight champion Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora 21-1-1 with 13 stoppages from California. “He’s an inside fighter, even though he’s 6’05,” Bozy Ennis said, “and that’s why he got beat.”
He adds, “his sister can really fight.” IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, 23-0 with 17 stoppages from Russia and California, and former 2-division WBA Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, 41-0 with 31 stoppages from Nebraska. No one has scheduled a fight. At age 37, Crawford is looking for one big payday before he retires, and Alvarez could make that happen.
What do you think, readers?
