WHAT was once a potentially exciting addition to the February 22 bumper card in Riyadh has become another social media controversy.
Last week it was claimed that IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, 33-0 (29 KOs), and WBC Interim belt holder Virgil Ortiz Jr., 22-0 (21 KOs) were all set to fight. Middle East. Their fight would take place at an event during the Riyadh season, which will feature Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker, Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, and more. However, the fight between two of the best undefeated talents in boxing looks set to be on the shelf until major decisions are made.
Yesterday afternoon, on social media platform X, Ortiz denied any claims or legends that the fight did not take place.
“I always said that I will fight with someone and I kept my promise. Every person I’ve been offered to fight, I’ve said yes. It takes 2 to tango in boxing, so if I’m not in that ring with someone, know that it’s not my fault! It’s time for some of you to stop saying I don’t want to fight because it’s not this time and it never was 💯”
Ortiz is close to fighting for the 154-pound world title. (Image credit: Golden Boy Promotions)
A fight isn’t complete without a punch being thrown, and Ennis took to Instagram hours later to take a verbal jab.
“I saw the rumors on social networks, just like Yal in the fight with me and Virgil. I did not know that the negotiations were supposed to be done by me. I do not believe and I will apply if I am at 47 years old or on the date and I’ll go to 54 later.”
Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ promoter, was in Birmingham last night watching heavyweight star Galal Yafai secure a world title shot after Sunny Edwards retired. Later in the evening, he spoke Boxing news and said that Ennis had to choose whether to stay at welterweight or move up to super-heavyweight.
“This fight isn’t necessarily dead,” he said, “but Jeron has to make a quick decision about how he’s going to make weight and whether he’s going to vacate the belt, and I’m not sure he’s going to do that. We’ll have to see what happens. “
Hearn shot down reports saying there was a last-minute change moving Ennis from 147 pounds to 154 pounds.
“There was never a last-minute change to be at 147,” he said.
“About three days ago, we were proposed for a fight at number 147. Neither of us nor we try to fight in 147. This is what is written in our proposal. We took it back to Jaron, apparently that’s fine with us. We went back to them and said we’ll accept but you better believe it’s in ’47. They left, came back and said we talked to Golden Boy, sorry it’s going to be at 154, you have to vacate your title. Well, that’s a big decision. We have to go back. That was about 24-48 hours ago.
“At Thanksgiving we were asked to make a decision and the answer (from Ennis) was I don’t know, I’m not ready to make a decision if I’m going to empty my belt and that’s it and that’s it. So if we have time to make a decision, maybe he will, but if he makes a decision tonight or tomorrow, I’m not sure he will. If he goes to ’54, he’s 100% with Vergil Ortiz will fight, if he doesn’t, he’ll unify at 147 and that’s his job.
Hearn also responded to Ennis’ post about being “unaware” of the negotiations, and assured that if Philadelphia moves to 154 pounds, he will fight Ortiz Jr.
“There have been no negotiations,” he said. “We just received an offer about three days ago. We got the offer of war in ’47, we accepted, we went back, we checked, then we were told it was ’54. We said, well, we have to talk as a team to decide where we’re going in ’54, but what you don’t see is him going into ’54 and not fighting Virgil Ortiz, I tell you. I promise.
