Eddie Hearn told The Ring on Saturday that Jermell Charlo is one of three possibilities for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis as the Matchroom chairman and the super welterweight puncher explore the 154-pound landscape as a super fight against boxing rival Vergil Ortiz appears increasingly unlikely.
Issues between and Ortiz and his promoter, Golden Boy, were evident long before a judge made a decision in the legal dispute — the cruz of which regards a desired fight against Ennis.
Golden Boy obtained a temporary restraining order in a Nevada court which means the Texan cannot enter third-party contracts for this bout, restricting Ortiz’s ability to consider and sign a three-fight deal with Matchroom for an estimated $12 million to $20 million. With the judge’s ruling, Vergil “may not negotiate … future fights before the arbitrator addresses the dispute.”
Days later, Ortiz said in a statement that his “time with Golden Boy is done.”
When commenting on the situation, Hearn said either it “can be settled instantly, or it can never be settled.”
He said: “But we’re moving on with Jaron Ennis, in a sense of, that door [for Ortiz] is still open. If we get something else done, we go in for it.”
If not, they are preparing for alternatives.
One of the reasons an Ennis vs Ortiz fight excites Hearn so much is because he regards it as the biggest bout in American boxing. Another key fixture on the calendar, though, could be Ennis vs Charlo — and that is seemingly not lost on the Matchroom boss.
But it is not the only possibility. Hearn could book an in-house 154-pound clash between ‘Boots’ and his IBF champion Josh Kelly, whom took the belt from Bakhram Murtazaliev, earlier this year. There is even
“We are obviously planning the future of Jaron Ennis,” Hearn said. “Josh Kelly is obviously a fight that can be made.”
And, because of the wealth of talent at super welterweight, there is also a “huge fight in America” that could see Ennis challenge Xander Zayas, Hearn suggested.
“Jermell Charlo has been on,” he added.
“We will get Boots a big fight,” he said. And, while it may seem unclear who he will fight, there is far more certainty over the when. “He will fight in May,” Hearn finished.
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