A crucial week is upon us, a make-or-break moment for boxing fans eagerly anticipating the highly anticipated showdown between Jaron "Boots" Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. in the junior middleweight division.
The fate of this eagerly awaited battle rests on the outcome of this week's events, with key players involved in making this fight a reality agreeing that the time is now or never.
With the IBF 154lbs title fight between champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and Josh Kelly set to conclude in Newcastle, England, on Saturday, the stage is set for a potential Ennis-Ortiz clash. Eddie Hearn, the promoter for both Ennis and Kelly, has confirmed that Kelly has already signed a commitment to face Ennis in his first title defense should he emerge victorious.
But here's where it gets controversial... Murtazaliev, who has had difficulty finding an opponent since his dominant performance against former champion Tim Tszyu in 2024, is also open to a fight with Ennis. And this is the part most people miss - former IBF welterweight champion Ennis has expressed interest in this bout, provided the Russian retains his belt.
"He is focused on Kelly right now, of course," Kathy Duva, Murtazaliev's promoter, told BoxingScene. "Let's see if any of the others want to fight him, including 'Boots,' after that. And you can quote me on that!"
Hearn, who is also busy promoting the Shakur Stevenson-Teofimo Lopez WBO 140lbs title fight in New York, has stated that he is open to discussing an Ennis-Ortiz match if it's feasible.
However, a recent lawsuit filed by Ortiz's manager, Rick Mirigian, and attorney, Greg Smith, against Ortiz's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, for breach of contract has complicated matters. This legal battle has made it challenging to negotiate with Team Ennis, but Hearn remains hopeful.
"We're still hoping we can do the 'Boots' fight," Hearn said. "We have the Josh Kelly fight, and there's also a [WBO champion] Xander Zayas [unification] fight [against WBA champion Abass Baraou] this weekend, so there's two guys we'll be focusing on - the winners - if we can't get Vergil Ortiz."
Hearn believes that Ortiz and Ennis are the top two in their division and wants to deliver the best fights for the fans. "That, for me, is the best versus the best in their prime," he added.
Mirigian and Smith assert their right to negotiate for Ortiz and allege that Golden Boy Promotions and Ortiz are at odds due to the expiration of Golden Boy's contract with streaming network DAZN.
An industry insider suggests that one way to salvage this fragile situation is to extend the partnership between DAZN and Golden Boy. This extension would provide DAZN with the high-profile fight they desire, keep Golden Boy in a broadcast deal, and resolve a key dispute in the Ortiz lawsuit.
March 28 in Las Vegas has been set aside for this highly anticipated bout, with fighters and promoters typically requiring eight weeks to prepare and market a fight effectively.
In a symbolic gesture, Ennis and Ortiz's trainers, Bozy Ennis and Robert Garcia, shook hands last week, agreeing to move their fighters towards a meeting this year.
The outcome of this week will be nothing short of captivating, with a scintillating bout hanging in the balance. Will the stars align for this highly anticipated clash? Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts on this potential fight? Do you think it will happen, and who do you think will emerge victorious? Let's discuss in the comments and share our predictions!
