Oscar De La Hoya gleefully posted an emoji showing his fighter, Vergil Ortiz Jr., holding a prized duck with the head of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on X today, in a great moment, which one of the promoter Eddie Hearn’s best fighters make them look bad.
Hearn said in interviews last weekend that Ennis wanted to stay at 147 to unify the division and that he was worried about losing his IBF title if he moved up to challenge Vergil for his WBC interim 154-lb strap.
The price of avoidance
Fans aren’t buying those excuses from Boots, believing the real reason he doesn’t want to move up is because of Vergil Jr.’s strength and toughness. They smell fear, and they don’t respect it. Boxing is war, and Ennis shows a fear of entering the battlefield. It is better to fight and lose than to retreat and show your flank.
Career over
Ennis’ career may never be seen in the same light after this move, and he may not understand it now. His popularity will probably never recover from this, so he should take this fight if there is another chance.
It was a dream come true for De La Hoya to kick sand in the fact of his nemesis, Hearn, who was so high on Boots after signing him to a multi-fight deal in April 2024 earlier this year .
After two lackluster fights, Ennis’ stock fell with fans, and this latest episode of him choosing not to Vergil Ortiz Jr. to face next was icing on the cake. Hearn should be kicking himself mentally for making the mistake of signing Ennis instead of using the money to ink someone else.
Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) opted not to move up to 154 to challenge Vergil (22-0, 21 KOs) for his WBC interim junior middleweight title on His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s Feb. 22 co-main card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What makes it worse is that Boots, 27, reportedly would have received a career-high payday to fight Vergil. To turn down the biggest payday of his career suggests he lacked the confidence he could win.
😂😂 @VergilOrtiz pic.twitter.com/1k4wE5I5df
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) December 2, 2024
Name five ducks today.
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) December 2, 2024
