Undefeated IBF welterweight world champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis wants to stay at welterweight to unify the titles. The only problem is that the heroes of the other three organizations are not willing to unite by fighting him.
Coming off an unimpressive win, despite being the undoubted winner, you would think one of the champions would be ready by now. Ennis's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, is probably the busiest promoter in the world. The super welterweight was rumored to have offered Vergil Ortiz Jr. a 22-0, 21 stoppage fight. “We were never offered this,” Buzzy Ennis said. Ortiz is scheduled to meet on February 22 with Israel Madrimov, 10-1-1, with 7 stoppages to Uzbekistan and California, who is coming off a close loss to Terence Crawford.
Prospective welterweight contender, WBA champion Imantas Stansonis, 15-0 with 9 stoppages, is from Lithuania. “He's the best of the champions and he wants that fight,” said Boosie Ennis. Also, WBC champion Brian “The Assassin ll” Norman Jr., 26-0 with 20 stoppages for Georgia, and WBC interim champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, 29-2-1 with 13 stoppages for Texas.
IBF No. 3 (No. 1 and 2 vacant) Jin Sasaki, 18-1-1 with 17 stoppages for Japan, is scheduled to Jan. 24 defend his WBO Asia-Pacific and East-Pacific Boxing Federation titles against Shoki “ELPV” Sakai. , 29-14-3 with 15 strikeouts for Japan.
If Ennis moves up in weight, he could face WBO champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora, 21-1-1 with 13 stoppages in California. “He's an inside fighter, even though he's 6'05, that's why he got beat up,” Boosie Ennis said.
Adding, “His sister can really fight.” IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, 23-0 with 17 stoppages for Russia and California, and former 2nd-rounder Terrence “Bud” Crawford, 41-0 with 31 stoppages for Nebraska. Nobody has a fight scheduled. At 37 years old, Crawford is looking for a big payday before retirement, and Alvarez can make that happen.
What do you think, readers?