WHAT was once a potentially exciting addition to a great February 22 card in Riyadh has turned into yet another argument on social media.
Last week it was claimed that IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, 33-0 (29 KOs), and WBC interim super welterweight belt holder Vergil Ortiz Jr, 22-0 (21 KOs), were set for a showdown in the Middle East. Their match was supposed to be shown at the season event in Riyadh, which will feature Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker, Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitri Bivol and more. However, it looks like the battle between two of boxing’s best undefeated talents will be on the shelf until major decisions are made.
Writing on social media platform X yesterday afternoon, Ortiz dismissed any claims or narrative that the fight was his own.
“I’ve always said I’ll fight anyone and I’ve stayed true to my word.” Every person I was offered to fight I said yes. It takes 2 to tango in boxing, so if I’m not in that ring and I’m fighting someone, know that it’s not my fault! It’s time for some of you to stop saying I’m ducking and I don’t want to fight because that’s not the case this time and never has been 💯”
Ortiz is close to a world title fight at 154 lbs. (Image credit: Golden Boy Promotions)
However, a fighter doesn’t take a hit without a fight back, and Ennis took his verbal jab a few hours later on Instagram.
“I saw the rumors on social media, just like Iall, as far as the fight with me and Virgil, I didn’t know there were supposed to be negotiations on my side. From now on, if it doesn’t just come from ME I don’t believe it and I will address if I stay at 47 or move to 54 at a later date and time.”
Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ promoter, was in Birmingham last night watching his flyweight star Galal Yafai win a world title after retiring from Sunny Edwards. Later in the evening, he spoke with Boxing News and said that Ennis needs to choose whether to stay at welterweight or move up to super welterweight.
“That fight is not necessarily completely dead,” he said, “but Jaron has to make a quick decision about what weight he’s going to make and whether he’s going to vacate the belt, and I’m not sure he’s going to do that. We’ll have to see what happens.”
Hearn shot down reports that there was a last-minute change that would see Ennis move from 147lbs to 154lbs.
“There was never a last-minute change to be at 147,” he said.
“Three days ago, we received an offer for a fight at 147. Not from us, not from us who are trying to get a fight at 147. That’s what it said in the offer.” We gave it back to Jaron, obviously, we’re fine with that. We went back to them and said we accept but are you sure this is a ’47. They left, came back and said no, we talked to Golden Boy, I’m sorry he’s going to be at 154, you have to vacate your title. Okay, this is a big decision. We’ll have to go back. This was 24-48 hours ago.
“On Thanksgiving, we were asked to make a decision and the answer (from Ennis) was I just don’t know, I’m not ready to make a decision on whether to release my belt and that’s it and that’s it.” So if we have time to make a decision, maybe he will, but if we have to make a decision tonight or tomorrow, I’m not sure he will. If he moves to ’54, he’ll 100% fight Vergil Ortiz, if not, he’ll unify at 147 and that’s up to him.”
Hearn also responded to Ennis’ announcement that he was unaware of the negotiations taking place and gave a guarantee that if the Philadelphia native moves to 154 pounds, he will fight Ortiz Jr.
“There were no negotiations,” he confirmed. “All we did was get the offer about three days ago. We got an offer to fight in ’47, we accepted, we went back, checked, then we were told it was ’54. We said okay, we have to talk as a team to decide if we’re going to ’54, but what you’re not going to see is him going to ’54, not fighting Virgil Ortiz, I promise you that.