Eddie Hearn wants WBO light heavyweight champion Teofimo Lopez to fight new IBF champion Richardson Hitchins next in a unification contest in Brooklyn, New York. Hearn sees a fight between the trash-talking Theophimus (21-1, 13 KOs) and Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) that would appeal to fans.
Interestingly, Teofimo called out Hearn’s fighter, IBF light heavyweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis last Saturday, saying he wants to move up to 147 to face him next. However, instead of Hearn choosing to go in that direction, he is pushing for a Theofimo-Hitchins unification fight next.
Hearn did NOT even mention the boots. What does that tell you about Ennis’ attitude with him? It’s not good. I’m with Hearn on this one. Hitchins is a a diamond in the rough and one in which he should invest his time, money and energy.
Hearn’s new favorite
This could indicate that The boots are on the way out with Hearn as he failed to shine in his last four fights against Karen Chukhajian x 2, David Avanesian and Rojman Villa. Those four straight bad performances and Ennis’ complete lack of charisma (33-0, 29 KOs) signal that he’s not star material or someone Hearn should be putting his money into to land big fights.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Hearn ditches Boots at the end of his multi-fight deal with Matchroom. Ennis has already had two fights and has looked awful and nowhere near star quality.
“Teofimo vs. Richardson is a big fight for Brooklyn, but it’s also a fight for Riyadh,” Eddie Hearn told media last Saturday night following Richardson Hitchins’ victory over Liam Parr. “Him against Teofim is a big fight for Brooklyn, but if he doesn’t go there, he can go to Riyadh.” (Jose ‘Rayo’) Valenzuela boxed in the show in Riyadh.”
The making of a star
See what I mean? Hearn wants Theo for Hitchins, and I can’t blame him. Eddie realizes that Richardson is a talent who can quickly transform into a global superstar. He has more potential to achieve that than Shakur Stevenson, who is less entertaining than Hitchins in and out of the ring. Hearn signed Shakur from New Jersey, thinking he could make a star out of him, and he’s in the same boat as Boots. He doesn’t perform.
Richardson, 27, has more star potential than Boots and is worth it for Hearn to arrange fights he can sell to the public. As we saw during the build-up to Hitchins’ title challenge against IBF 140lb champion Liam Parro last Saturday, he is able to generate interest in his fights with his theatrical VVE showmanshiptrash talk and naturally over the top personality.
Boots Ennis is a sign and they lack the spark for Hearn to subsidize matches that will not attract public interest due to Jaron’s lack of charisma and another poor in-ring performance.