Eddie Hearn confirms plans for Jaron 'Boots' Ennis weight division switch as Vergil Ortiz Jr talk intensifies

Unified welterweight world champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis is set to jump up to super-welterweight, opening the door for a blockbuster showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr, Eddie Hearn has revealed.

The unbeaten Philadelphian solidified his position as the top dog at 147lbs with an emphatic victory over Eimantas Stanionis in April, adding the Lithuanian's WBA welterweight strap to his IBF belt.

Hearn has since attempted to agree deals for his charge to undertake further unification showdowns with Mario Barrios and Brian Norman Jr, but talks have subsequently broken down with both fighters.

Those frustrations, together with gruelling weight cuts at welterweight and the prospect of an enormously lucrative clash with domestic rival Ortiz Jr, are now, according to the Matchroom supremo, likely to signal the end of the 27-year-old's spell in the 147lbs division.

"The plan is for Boots’ to move up (to 154lbs)," Hearn told FightHype.

After the Stanionis fight, he had his team around him - the doctors, the tests - and, what they’re basically saying is that ‘Boots’ is under-performing at welterweight.

- Eddie Hearn (FightHype)

"It doesn’t take a genius to see that it’s hard work for him to make 147lbs, so, it’s very likely that his belts will become vacant.

"We've looked into unification fights at 147lbs with (Mario) Barrios and (Brian) Norman Jr, but to no avail, so we’re going to meet this week and make a final decision.

"Either way Boots’ will fight around August time - August or early September - and then we’ll make the Vergil Ortiz fight!"

Ortiz Jr would likely present the supremely-talented 'Boots' Ennis with the biggest challenge of his professional career to date, although Hearn is in no doubt that his charge has what it takes to make a seamless transition between weight classes.

"Boots is not losing at 147, he’s not losing at 154, he’s not losing at 160," he said recently.

"Watch what he does in the next few years, he’s going through all the divisions!"

23-0 Ortiz Jr is on the lookout for a big name opponent as he looks to build-upon his impressive unanimous points success over Israil Madrimov in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

The hard-hitting Texan, who has won 21 of his 23 pro bouts inside the distance, has been active inside the ring since ending a 17 month long boxing hiatus in January of last year.

His triumph over Madrimov came hot-on-the-heels of a majority decision victory over Serhii Bohachuk, following back-to-back first round KO successes over Thomas Dulhorne and Frederick Lawson.

Mark Mothershaw

• Matchroom
• • 
  •