Bob Arum has revealed plans to stage a high-stakes welterweight title fight between WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez and unbeaten IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis. The Top Rank Chairman confirmed discussions with Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn, aiming to make the fight happen as a joint ESPN-DAZN pay-per-view.
Lopez, 27, expressed interest in Ennis as well as four-division champion Terence Crawford. Coming off victories over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett, Lopez has pushed for marquee matchups that bring prestige and substantial paychecks. A fight against Ennis would provide Lopez a significant challenge while elevating his status at welterweight.
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For Ennis, 27, this fight offers a much-needed step up in competition after criticism following his mandatory defense against Karen Chukhadzhian. His decision to decline a proposed 154-pound clash with Vergil Ortiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia, citing a preference for staying at 147 pounds, has added pressure to secure a meaningful fight.
Arum plans to stage the fight in March at Madison Square Garden, aligning with Lopez’s timeline for a return following his suspension, which ends in April.
With both camps pushing for high-stakes bouts, a Lopez-Ennis showdown could rejuvenate a welterweight division searching for new stars after Terence Crawford unified the belts in 2023. All that remains is for the finances and terms to align.
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