Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has been accused of ducking fellow rising star Vergil Ortiz Jr after their mouthwatering showdown was unexpectedly scuppered.
The pair were supposed to lock horns on February 22, appearing on a blockbuster Riyadh Season card that is set to feature the return of IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Both unbeaten Americans have been on a collision course since their early professional fights, back when Ortiz was campaigning down at 147 lbs.
But now, with Ennis deciding whether to vacate his IBF welterweight title and move up to 154 lbs, it appears that their eagerly awaited battle is dead in the water.
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Oscar De La Hoya accuses Jaron Ennis of ducking Vergil Ortiz Jr
Following his underwhelming performance against mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian, Jaron Ennis had remained somewhat coy regarding his next outing.
On the one hand, the 27-year-old has expressed a desire to unify his division, targeting fellow welterweight champions Mario Barrios, Brian Norman Jr and Eimantas Stanionis.
But, then again, one would suspect that Ennis’ best days are up at super welterweight, where the extra 7 lbs should allow him to rediscover his explosive power.
Indeed, ‘Boots’ was seemingly presented with the opportunity to move up in weight and take on WBC interim champion Ortiz.
Instead of making a hasty decision on the future of his promising career, though, Ennis has decided to spend some more time considering his options.
In doing so, he appears to have missed the boat on a potential clash against Ortiz, with Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya delivering a typically facetious response on social media.
On X, the two-time Hall of Fame inductee posted a photo of Ennis’ face on a duck, with his fighter, Ortiz, carrying the bird in his hands.
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Will Vergil Ortiz Jr face Xander Zayas next?
While Ennis has ruled himself out of their matchup, Ortiz nonetheless looks set to return to the ring in February.
But instead, the 26-year-old is likely to face unbeaten super welterweight prospect Xander Zayas, who announced on X that he has already agreed to the fight.
And while an official announcement, of course, is yet to emerge, it seems as though the 22-year-old is now the front runner to take on Ortiz.