Shakur Stevenson says he wants to see Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. next. He feels that Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) is “too dominant” for anyone at 147 if he stays in the weight class. Stevenson views Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) as the money fight for Ennis.

(Credit: Mark Robinson)

Fans on social media overwhelmingly want to see Ennis fight Vergil Jr. That match would be a 50-50 affair, and it would be the first time in Boots’ career that the outcome wasn’t assured the moment the contract was signed.

Ennis should listen to Shakur and heed his advice. Not only would the money be better, but it would help Ennis’ career a lot more than staying in the 147-lb division.

Fear of Stepping Up?

Ennis’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is backing him to stay at 147 to continue working toward becoming an undisputed champion. He’s trying to use pressure to get WBO champ Brian Norman Jr. and WBC belt-holder Mario Barrios to agree to fight Boots rather than offering them big paydays.

It’s not going to work, and eventually, Ennis is going to have to decide whether he wants to devote many years trying to round up the last two titles. It seems stupid, but that’s what he wants. You can read between the lines for why Boots is reluctant to move up to 154—fear of failure. Losing to guys like Vergil Ortiz Jr. and other power punchers at junior middleweight would quickly sink Ennis’ career overnight, shutting off the money that he’s been making dominating weak opposition at 147.

“Boots vs. Vergil Ortiz- that’s the big fight. That’s the money fight right there,” said Shakur Stevenson to YSM Sports Media when asked who he wants to see IBF and WBA welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis fight next following his sixth-round TKO win over Eimantas Stanionis last Saturday night. “Boots vs. Vergil Ortiz. I don’t like him or anyone at 147. I think he’s too dominant.”

Boots’ rejection of a fight against Vergil Jr. and the rumored $8 million he was offered last February lets you know he doesn’t possess the self-belief to face him. You can see how Ennis went overboard, celebrating his victory over Stanionis last Saturday, and that he doubted himself. Reacting like that against a weak champion at 147 means he’s not confident in himself. Ennis should have been nonchalant after the fight. Going up against Vergil Jr. would require that Jaron show bravery, which he lacks.

“Certain fighters make you go to another level. He went to another level a little bit, but he can go to another level higher than that,” said trainer Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis to Matchroom Boxing about his son, Boots Ennis. “You seen him in there playing.”

No Challenge

Ennis didn’t need to go to another level against Stanionis because this guy was a paper champion quality belt-holder who had never beaten anyone noteworthy during his career. Boots knew that it was an easy mark for him, and that’s why he fought him. If this were Vergil Ortiz Jr. holding the WBA welterweight title, I don’t think Ennis would have taken the fight. He’d have have cooked up with some kind of excuse.

“True greatness with one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a fight of that magnitude under that kind of pressure,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “They’re the kind of fights where you show how great you are. Boots Ennis jumped on the pound-for-pound list at 27 years of age. It’s just the beginning—a future pound-for-pound #1.

“I hope the other champions [at welterweight] want to test themselves because that’s what he wants to do. Test hiimelf agaist the best,” said Hearn.