For weeks, boxing fans have speculated about potential mega fights for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, linking him to names like Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Teofimo Lopez. Social media chatter and reports suggested Ennis could be making a move to 154 pounds, possibly setting up blockbuster showdowns. But according to his father and trainer, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, none of that is true.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Bozy Ennis flatly denied that his son was ever in talks to fight Ortiz or Lopez. “That’s something I didn’t know nothing about,”he said, expressing confusion over where these rumors even started.
The speculation seemed to stem from comments Boots made after his last fight against Karen Chukhadzhian in November. After securing the win, Ennis hinted that he “might have to move up” to 154. That statement, according to Bozy, was misunderstood. “If you listened closely, he said, ‘I might have to move up,’ but he still wanted to clean 147 out,” he clarified. “He wouldn’t move up right at that time.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn previously claimed that an offer was made for Ennis to face Ortiz at 147. When that didn’t happen, there was talk of moving the fight to 154. Some saw Boots’ decision not to take the fight as avoiding a challenge. But Bozy insists that was never on the table. “We never negotiated anything about that fight or nothing,” he emphasized. “We never talked about it.”
Ennis sticking to the plan: 147 first, 154 later
For now, Team Ennis is focused on unifying the welterweight division. “That’s the plan,”Bozy said. “Once we unify all the titles at 147, eventually, we’re going to move up and try and do the same thing at 154.“
The rumors have sparked debate among boxing fans. Some believe Ennis should take big fights now rather than wait, while others see his approach as strategic patience. The truth, according to his team, is that they’re sticking to the plan.
As for a future move up in weight, that remains in the cards-but only when the time is right. Until then, Ennis remains focused on clearing out 147, with his eyes on a world title unification before any shift in divisions.
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