Commenator Sergio Mora says WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. should agree to fight IBF and WBA unified champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in a three-belt unification next as the underdog rather than fight #2 IBF contender Jin Sasaki in Japan.
Mora acknowledges that Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) “might lose,” but as “long as he’s competitive,” it’ll help his career. The problem is that the dough that Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, is offering isn’t to their liking. He offered Norman $1.7 million and balked when they requested an increase to $2.2 million.
The real question is, why should Norman Jr. agree to fight Jaron Ennis for less money than his last opponent, former WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis, made, fighting him in his hometown in Philadelphia? Norman Jr. would be treated as a challenger, not as a champion, if he agreed to that kind of deal.
If Boots and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, want the unification fight against Norman Jr, they’re going to have to invest. That means pay the asking price to get the unbeaten WBO champ in the ring.
“Duck” Talk
“Eddie Hearn has not been shy about calling out the other champions out there. Basically, saying to Brian Norman and Mario Barrios to grow a pair. That’s effectively what he’s been saying to those two guys,” said Chris Mannix to DAZN Boxing, talking about Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn calling out WBO 147-lb champion Brian Norman Jr. and WBC champ Mario Barrios to fight his fighter Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in a unification clash.
Brian Norman Sr. says they would fight Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) if the money is right. That was Hearn who chose to pull out of the negotiations and take the fight with Karen Chukhadzhian last November, which turned out to be a pure nightmare for poor Boots. Karen took him to school and humiliated him in front of his fans at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The $2.2 million that Norman asked for last time may increase by another million to $3 million after he defends against Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) in Japan.
“Since we use the word ‘Duck’ a lot over the last year. If Brian Norman goes over to Japan and fights [#2 IBF] Jin Sasaki, and fights anyone not named ‘Boots Ennis,’ would you consider that a duck?” said Mannix.
“Quack, yes, and that’s because this is a kid [Norman Jr] that is 27-0 with 21 knockouts just waiting for a big fight and a big moment, and it gets handed to you on a platter. He’ll probably make the biggest career payday as well,” said commentator Sergio Mora about WBO champion Norman Jr.
“Brian Norman has that kind of ability and hunger. Youth is on his side. He has power, man. I would say, yes. Take this. You’re going to be the underdog. Chances are you might lose, but if you’re competitive, you hold your own, you get some respect, that title is secondary to the respect you’re going to get. That respect is going to take you a lot farther in your career and open up more doors to make more money,” said Mora.
The $3 Million Solution
What Sergio is saying doesn’t make sense unless you’re one of Ennis’ fans. It works for him, but not for Norman Jr. He would have to agree to chump change for the fight, and on top of that, fighting Ennis in his hometown in Philadelphia, in front of 21,000 pro-Boots fans.
Hearn has got the money to sweeten the deal by offering Norman Jr. $3 million. Ennis needs to help out if his promoter, Hearn, is going to be unyielding in the negotiations, as it’s his career. He’s the one who is stuck on the idea that he needs to capture all four belts at welterweight to validate his career.
All he needs to do is surrender whatever money it takes from his purse to pay Norman Jr. the difference from what Hearn is offering. So, if Eddie only wants to offer $1.7M again, Ennis can come up with the extra cash to get the offer to $3 million to make Norman Jr. agree. It’s that easy.
Last Updated on 04/19/2025
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