3 hrs ago
1 min read
Now that Jaron Ennis is halfway to his undisputed goal, he's fully focused on making that happen.
The 29-year-old is fresh off a commanding seventh-round stoppage win over Xander Zayas on Saturday night in Brooklyn's Barclays Center, becoming the WBA and WBO junior middleweight world champion.
With two belts in his possession, Ennis wants to finish the mission. However, Vergil Ortiz remains a clear threat to his throne.
The Ring's No. 1-ranked junior middleweight was close to finalizing a deal that would’ve seen him fight Ennis in April before getting involved in a promotional dispute with current promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Still, even with the constant bickering, Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) would love to face Ennis next and the champion would happily oblige, provided the Philadelphia star can't get what he wants first.
"I'm here to be undisputed and bring home these belts," Ennis said during the post-fight presser. "But if we can't get those other guys and Vergil Ortiz is available, let's make it happen."
Ennis is talking about the division's other beltholders, WBC champion Sebastian Fundora and IBF titlist Josh Kelly.
The unified champion's promoter, Eddie Hearn, claims Team Fundora's representatives have already reached out about making a three-belt unification.
Kelly is slated to defend his IBF crown against Caoimhin Agyarko on July 25 on the Anthony Joshua-Kristian Prenga undercard in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hearn believes Kelly could fight Ennis next, should he prove successful next month.
Either way, Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs, 1 NC) is a man with options.
That doesn't mean Ortiz is completely out of the loop, even with the two-weight world champion's belt collection mission. Hearn is aware the Golden Boy-promoted interim titleholder is a growing star in his own right and deserves an opportunity to prove just how good he is.
"We are not gonna sit there full of arrogance like some people would right now and say tough luck Vergil Ortiz," Hearn said. "He's the unified world champion; a superstar of the sport. Get in line and take your 15% for a voluntary defense... What we say is, we love the big fights. We want to be undisputed but we don't rule out that fight."
Who do you want Jaron Ennis to face next?


Ortiz

Fundora

Kelly
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