Matchroom Boxing is pushing to secure one of the most explosive fights in the 154-pound division, as talks progress for Jaron “Boots” Ennis to face Vergil Ortiz Jr, while negotiations have also begun for a potential title bout against WBA champion Abass Baraou.
Ennis made an emphatic start to life at super-welterweight with a first-round destruction of Uisma Lima last week. The long-discussed showdown with Ortiz has been a fan favorite for years, and both fighters now find themselves aligned in weight and timing. Ortiz must first overcome Erickson Lubin on November 8, following recent victories over Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk, before the path clears for a blockbuster all-American clash.
According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Ennis has already signed his side of the deal, while Ortiz’s contract remains pending. “The Vergil Ortiz fight has been spoken about a lot, and Jaron Ennis has already signed for it,” confirmed Matchroom CEO Frank Smith. “Once Ortiz gets through his fight with Lubin, I’m confident that we’ll see it happen.”
In parallel, Matchroom has opened dialogue with the camp of Abass Baraou, the newly elevated WBA champion. Baraou claimed the interim belt with a win over Yoenis Tellez in August before being upgraded to full champion following Terence Crawford’s move to super-middleweight. “That’s an opportunity that could be there,” Smith said. “It’s about finding the balance between world title fights and the bouts that make the most commercial sense.”
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing