According to Eddie Hearn, a proposition has been delivered to Josh Kelly, currently ranked #3 by the WBO, suggesting a match against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to determine a challenger for the WBO 154-lb title.
The Influence of Funds From Riyadh
Hearn isn’t very hopeful that Kelly (17 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw, 9 KOs) will accept what he describes as a “significant offer” to compete against Boots (34 wins, 0 losses, 30 KOs). He mentions that Kelly, who is 31 years old, received some financial benefits from the “Riyadh Season” for his contest against Ishmael Davis last September at Wembley Stadium in London.
Hearn believes this might make it challenging to persuade Kelly to agree to the encounter with Ennis. In other words, Josh Kelly may have become accustomed to larger payments after receiving a substantial sum for his fight with Davis.
Kelly is well-positioned to potentially secure a chance to challenge Xander Zayas for the WBO junior middleweight title. Facing Ennis would endanger Josh’s current ranking, which he would likely avoid unless Hearn’s offer surpasses what he could potentially earn from fighting Zayas.
Top Rank, the promotional group for the newly crowned WBO champion, Xander, has been strategic in their matchmaking throughout his developing career. They will probably consider Josh Kelly as Zayas’ next opponent for his first title defense because of the perceived advantage it presents.
Hearn’s Apprehension
“We formally proposed the fight to Josh Kelly yesterday, and discussions are ongoing. The challenge lies in the fact that Josh was compensated quite handsomely for fighting Ishmael Davis, partly due to the financial impact from the Riyadh Season. While the offer is substantial, the implications of the Riyadh Season fight make things complex,” Hearn stated to iFL TV. “I am enthusiastic about the match. It could function as a WBO final eliminator for Xander Zayas, but the outcome remains to be seen.”
Hearn will probably need to identify an alternative opponent for Boots Ennis’ initial appearance at 154 lbs. The division includes other capable contenders; however, many will demand significant compensation to fight a highly skilled opponent such as Ennis. They are not willing to accept such a fight without financial incentives that significantly exceed their usual earnings.
