Unified welterweight king Jaron “Boots” Ennis has finally listened to his body confirming he’ll debut at junior-middleweight in August or September. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that post-fight medical testing after Ennis’ April drubbing of Eimantas Stanionis showed the 27-year-old Philadelphian was functioning “at roughly 50 percent” of his capabilities thanks to brutal 147 lb weight cuts. The message was clear: keep shrinking, or risk a Keyshawn-style meltdown.
Ennis now intends to vacate the IBF and WBA belts he unified three months ago, trading them for fresh air and bigger prey at 154. Hearn says the ideal launchpad would be an all-action shoot-out against WBC interim titlist Vergil Ortiz Jr., but if Ortiz needs extra time the Matchroom brain trust will pivot to another top-five name.
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The move instantly detonates the welterweight landscape: the remaining champions can now chase undisputed without Boots’ shadow, while Ennis inserts himself into a division ruled by Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu and a parade of power punchers. Hearn insists the Stanionis version of Ennis “and that was the emaciated edition” would have handled Teófimo Lopez; at full strength, he predicts, Boots will be “a frightening proposition.”
Boxing’s worst-kept secret is out, then: the era of Turbo-charged Boots at 147 is over.
Image Credit: PBC