‘Boots’ added that he went directly to Ortiz’s hometown fight in November and told him he wanted to face him next. The Philadelphia fighter said he expected the conversation to lead to negotiations for one of the biggest fights available at welterweight, but instead claims the situation stalled.
“I came to his fight in his hometown and told him he was next,” Ennis said, pointing to that moment as evidence that he tried to push the bout forward in person.
The potential clash between Ennis and Vergil Jr. had generated significant interest among fans because both fighters are unbeaten and viewed as two of the most dangerous punchers in the division. Jaron has built a reputation as one of boxing’s hardest hitters at 147 pounds, stopping most of the opponents he has faced during his run to the IBF title.
Ortiz, meanwhile, has also earned a reputation for aggressive offense and knockout power during his career across the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. A fight between the two had been discussed by fans and media as a natural matchup between rising stars capable of producing an explosive fight.
Ennis’s comments suggest that months passed without the fight moving forward after the initial callout. His message on social media marked the first time he publicly expressed frustration about the situation, implying that he had waited quietly while hoping the bout would be finalized.
The IBF champion didn’t state what his next move in the post, but his remarks made clear that he believes he did what he could to make the fight happen and no longer expects it to move forward.
For now, the highly anticipated matchup between ‘Boots’ and Ortiz remains one of the major fights in the welterweight picture that has yet to come together.
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