Jaron Ennis is moving up to super-welterweight. The Philadelphia fighter, known as "Boots," will leave his unified welterweight belts behind as he sets his sights on a new division.
Ennis, one of boxing's brightest talents, has struggled to make the 147lb weight limit recently. He feels this has kept him from showing his full ability in the ring. The switch-hitter's decision to move up opens up exciting possibilities in the 154lb class.
Many fans want to see Ennis face Vergil Ortiz Jr., a knockout artist who's also made waves in the division. The two have talked about fighting before, but plans never materialized. Now, with both men at super-welterweight, the match-up looks more likely than ever.
In an interview with YSM Sports Media, Ennis addressed the potential showdown:
"That fight can definitely happen, and it's the fight everyone wants to see. I'm at 154. It got to happen. That fight is gonna make a lot of money. We're going to sell out no matter where it's at."
Ortiz, a 27-year-old fan favorite, has recently faced some tough challenges. He won a majority decision against Serhii Bohachuk, who scored two knockdowns in their fight. Many thought Bohachuk deserved the win. Before that, Ortiz took a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov. He's currently recovering from hand surgery but has shown interest in facing Ennis.
Both fighters have faced accusations of avoiding each other. Ennis sees these claims as fuel for his fire:
"It's extra motivation. I can't wait to shut y'all up. We're here now. It's time. It's going to happen, for sure."
Fight fans can expect news about Ennis' super-welterweight debut soon. With his move up in weight and the potential for a clash with Ortiz, the division just got a lot more interesting.
Ennis' reputation as a rising star in boxing will surely follow him to his new weight class. The boxing world will be watching closely to see how "Boots" fares against bigger opponents and if the much-anticipated fight with Ortiz comes to fruition.
