Promoter Eddie Hearn says he desires Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to remain at 147 and preserve his IBF title by dealing with his IBF welterweight obligatory Karen Chukhadzhian subsequent. He’ll see what occurs with that battle after he surprisingly misplaced the purse bid to Karen’s promoters this week.
If Chukhadzhian’s promoters can’t elevate the cash to stage the Boots Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) in Europe or elsewhere, it’d return to the U.S., the place Hearn will seemingly maintain it in Philadelphia.
The Undesirable Rematch
This battle may have been averted if Hearn had paid WBO 147-lb champion Brian Norman Jr. the $2.2 million his staff requested for to make the unification match with Boots Ennis. Hearn selected to not improve his $1.7 million supply, leaving Boots together with his obligatory Karen.
Whereas Hearn and Ennis’ followers see it as some victory that Norman Jr. is combating for significantly much less cash towards Derreick Cuevas on November eighth, it’s not. Each champions are dropping out.
Boots is caught with a rematch towards the defensive-minded Karen that nobody desires to see, whereas Norman is defending towards Cuevas. Hearn’s stubbornness has wrecked issues for Boots, leaving him solely two choices: Struggle Karen or transfer as much as 154 and grow to be meals for the sharks.
“I talked to [Karen] Chukhadzhian’s supervisor the opposite evening. We wish to preserve the [IBF welterweight] title,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Charlie Parson’s YouTube channel a few potential battle between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and his obligatory Karen Chukhadzhian.
“Boots has minimums in his [contract] settlement, and to pay Karen what we wanted to, the present can’t work. It’s not a battle that persons are dying to see. He [Boots Ennis] beat him [Chukhadzhian] already [on January 7, 2023]. He [Karen] was very destructive within the battle, however we do wish to preserve our place as world champion,” mentioned Hearn.
What Hearn isn’t saying is that he didn’t wish to make investments the cash in Boots Ennis to win the purse bid. That’s what he’s not saying, but it surely’s there simply the identical. If Hearn wished to win the purse bid for Boots’ battle towards Karen, he may have simply provide you with the cash by investing in his fighter’s profession however selected to not.
“We’re talking to his [Karen] staff. We’ll see the place it’s going to happen, and yeah, we have now an fascinating choice to make,” mentioned Hearn.
Staying at 147: The Safer Possibility
“I don’t know if I’d try this if I had been Boots. You’ve acquired to have a path to a serious battle if you happen to transfer as much as 154,” mentioned commentator Chris Mannix on his podcast on whether or not Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis ought to transfer as much as 154 and tackle Israil Madrimov in his first battle.
It could be a catastrophe for Boots Ennis if he strikes as much as 154 as a result of they hit tougher than him, they usually have simply as a lot expertise. If Boots had been to face former WBC junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154, he’d seemingly get knocked out or crushed up and lose.
It could be nice for Hearn as a result of Madrimov may have bounced again from his latest loss to Terence Crawford, however the draw back can be Ennis’ profession imploding. Hearn would then be caught with a devalued fighter that he would want to rebuild in fights that wouldn’t earn cash.
“Within the aftermath of Boots-Norman falling aside. If you happen to transfer up, you’re taking a look at a tricky battle towards Madrimov,” mentioned Mannix. “You’re hoping to get a battle towards Vergil Ortiz early subsequent yr. You’re nonetheless within the interim title vary whereas Crawford figures his stuff out, and [WBC 154-lb champion Sebastian] Fundora is a PBC man.”
It’s not a good suggestion for Boots Ennis to maneuver as much as 154 as a result of he’s not ok to beat these sorts of fighters. His complete factor in his profession is that he’s been greater than his marginal competitors at 147, and all that goes away if he strikes as much as 154.
He’d face high quality opposition that’s simply as huge as him for the primary time however with extra energy and expertise. Ennis has gotten over being a weight bully at 147, and issues gained’t be the identical if he strikes as much as junior middleweight, the place he ought to have been combating all alongside.
“To me, it simply appears much more sophisticated if you happen to transfer as much as 154,” mentioned Mannix. “If I used to be advising Boots, I’d say keep at 147 and take the payday [against IBF mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian]. Let’s see if PTM has the cash to placed on such a battle. This may find yourself on DAZN anyway in the event that they want a broadcast accomplice.
Boots Ennis wants to remain at 147 his complete profession if he desires to proceed to have success as a result of the division has been vacuumed of expertise, leaving lesser fighters. Brian Norman Jr is the one one with capacity, and Hearn doesn’t wish to shell out to make a unification battle for Ennis. That might be good for Boots as a result of he may lose to him, and Hearn can be caught with him till his contract expires.
“If I’m Boots, as a lot because it pains me to get again within the ring towards this man [Karen], as livid as I’m with the IBF placing me in that place, I’d in all probability undergo with it. I’d do the battle, get a payday, and transfer on to subsequent yr,” mentioned Mannix.
Hearn has already mentioned that he desires Ennis to face Karen for him to maintain his IBF title. Hearn clearly is aware of what life can be like for Ennis if he strikes as much as 154, and he prefers staying at 147.
As thinker Thomas Hobbes mentioned in regards to the state of life, describing it as “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and brief.” That explains how issues can be for Boots Ennis if he moved as much as junior middleweight, braving himself towards the damaging predators lurking all over the place. Hearn couldn’t defend Boots Ennis from them as a result of he’s not designed bodily to tackle these sorts of fighters.
“Brian Norman goes to get $200,000 to battle Cuevas in a battle that’s going to be on ESPN+ [on November 8th] that’s not going to get a number of visibility,” mentioned Hearn.
Taking a look at it from Norman’s viewpoint. Though he’s making far much less cash defending towards the little-known Derrieck Cuevas on the Keyshawn Davis vs. Gustavo Lemos undercard on November eighth on ESPN+, he nonetheless comes out forward as a result of he gained’t lose his title. If Norman Jr. took the battle towards Ennis for $1.7 million, he may get crushed.
The true query is how a lot the WBO title is price to Hearn and Boots Ennis. In the event that they really feel it’s not price paying the $2.2 million, they’ll by no means get an opportunity to seize it. If Norman Jr. defeats Cuevas and appears good, his price ticket will seemingly be increased ought to Hearn and Boots revisit the negotiations in 2025.
“Ryan Garcia is a possible possibility for Brian Norman. Ryan is again within the ring in April. Possibly they will make that battle occur, and that’s an enormous cash battle for Norman as properly,” mentioned Mannix.
It’s unlikely that Ryan Garcia will select to battle Norman when his suspension expires in April 2025. When he returns to motion subsequent yr, Ryan desires to be concerned in a big-money battle on PPV, and he’s not going to get that combating Norman.
