Jaron “Boots” Ennis, one of boxing's brightest young stars, is being encouraged to move up to the 154-pound division to take advantage of more lucrative matchups. Staying in the welterweight division (147 lbs) may hinder his career progression, especially when the junior middleweight (154 lbs) division is packed with potential blockbuster fights against top names like Vergil Ortiz Jr., Terence Crawford, Sebastian Fundora, and Tim Tszyu.
Recently, Vergil Ortiz Jr. had a less-than-stellar performance, where he was dropped twice before controversially securing a win against WBC junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk. This performance raised questions about Ortiz's viability as a top contender, with many believing that Crawford would easily dispatch him if they fought next. But for Boots Ennis, this opens up an opportunity.
Watch Ennis vs. Avanesyan highlights: Watch
While Ortiz's promoters at Golden Boy are likely to protect him until a Crawford fight materializes, Ennis has no shortage of options at 154 pounds. Moving up would offer him a chance to face several high-profile opponents, expanding his popularity and earnings potential.
Ennis and his team, including promoter Eddie Hearn, seem focused on the goal of becoming undisputed at 147 pounds. However, some analysts believe that this path won't elevate Ennis to superstar status or bring him the financial rewards that a move to 154 would. Becoming undisputed at welterweight might take several years, with opponents who lack the popularity to significantly boost Ennis's career.
The reality is that Boots Ennis may need to shift his focus away from 147 pounds if he wants to become a household name in boxing. The 154-pound division offers a "goldmine" of opportunities, with more prominent fighters and higher stakes.
Read more about the recent results of Ortiz Jr. vs. Bohachuk event.
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