The quartet of contenders being considered for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ initial foray into the 154-pound division have come to light. These potential opponents might not align with the aspirations of fans who envisioned more prominent matchups for Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs), the former unified titleholder at welterweight.
Ennis was reportedly seeking a preparatory bout to gain experience in the junior middleweight arena before facing formidable opponents like Vergil Ortiz Jr. Speculation initially suggested Ennis desired two such tune-up contests, a proposition that could strain his promoter Eddie Hearn’s willingness to allocate multiple fights from Ennis’ extended contract with Matchroom to this purpose.
Potential Foes for Boots Ennis at 154 Pounds
Rashidi Ellis
Charles Conwell
Josh Kelly
Andreas Katzourakis
Credit: Brunch Boxing.
The appeal of this compilation of fighters leaves much to be desired. One might argue it’s effectively a list of three, given that Josh Kelly and his manager/trainer, Adam Booth, have reportedly declined the offer presented by Hearn due to its insufficient financial terms. Hearn appears unlikely to enhance the offer significantly, as it would necessitate expenditure akin to Riyadh Season-level purses, an investment not justified for a tune-up fight preceding Ennis’ major bouts.
Rashidi Ellis typically competes at welterweight. Therefore, the proposal directed towards him intimates that the objective might not be centered on acclimating Ennis to the challenges of fighting at 154 pounds, but rather constitutes a conventional warm-up session aimed at mitigating ring rust.
Ennis last competed on April 12th, implying that a preparatory fight would only be pertinent if intended to ready him specifically for engagements against junior middleweights.
Charles Conwell’s most recent outing resulted in a defeat against Jorge Garcia via a 12-round split decision. Given Conwell’s performance in that fight, he wouldn’t present a suitable challenge to properly prepare Ennis for bouts at 154 pounds.
Perceived Inactivity and its Ramifications
Some observers feel that Ennis’ choices suggest a pattern of hesitance, potentially hindering his career trajectory. His initial reluctance to ascend to 154 last year, citing his ambition to secure the undisputed welterweight title, caused delay before his change of heart.
Should Hearn possess a termination clause in Ennis’ agreement, exercising it now could offer respite from financing multiple low-caliber warm-up matches.
Presently, Ennis seems inclined towards an inconsequential tune-up at 154 against competitors who will not adequately prepare him for clashes with Vergil Ortiz Jr. or other elite fighters within the division.
