Why Eddie Hearn’s “Bargain Basement” Offer for Jaron Ennis’s Opponent is a Telling Sign

Brian Norman Sr. says, “The going rate” promoter Eddie Hearn is offering for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ next opponent is “$250,000.” He states that as of last night, Hearn still hadn’t fought anyone for Ennis to fight in October. In other words, Hearn is trying to find someone on the cheap, getting the least expensive opponent possible.

Hearn’s $250,000 offer for Ennis’s opponent

“I’m positive he doesn’t have an opponent, because I’ve heard a whole lot of people he’s been looking for, even as of yesterday. So, he doesn’t have an opponent,” said Brian Norman Sr. to MillCity Boxing about Eddie Hearn still struggling to find an opponent for Jaron Ennis.

Hearn was bragging yesterday that he found a “hungry fighter” to give Ennis a “good test” for his debut in October. He wasn’t giving any hints about who the fighter is, other than saying it’s not a name guy. The fact that welterweight Rashidi Ellis was offered the fight first shows the level that Hearn is shopping at for Ennis’ opponent. This is not going to be any kind of real test to prepare Boots for the 154-lb environment. It’s more window dressing to make him look like 24k gold with the hope of turning him into a PPV attraction.

“The going rate they’re trying to do is $250,000. It’s whoever is going to take $250,000, that’s who he’s going to fight,” said Brian Sr. about ‘Boots’ Ennis’ next fight. “As of last night, they’re still looking. I know some names, personally, that they reached out to as close as last night. $250,000 is the going rate, take it or leave it for anybody.”

That’s a bargain basement offer if that’s all that Hearn has budged for Ennis’ opponent. It shows you how far away ‘Boots’ is from the top of the food chain, fighters Hearn has signed with his Matchroom company.

Ennis’s career not taking off

“I’m trying to figure out how you’re going to build a career on paying people $250,000 when you’re supposed to be the big dog. That’s going to be interesting that you can’t get one fight that you got to build a career off of that. That’s going to be crazy,” said Norman Sr. about Ennis.

We’ve already seen how Ennis’ career is failing to take off despite him being so heavily hyped and capturing two world titles at 147. Hearn couldn’t negotiate with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. for a fight late last year. That left Jaron with no other choice but to defend against his then mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian last November.

He looked terrible against Karen, and it didn’t have to be that way if Hearn had increased the offer to Brian Jr. to the $2.2 million that he was asking for.