After Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s quick win over Erickson Lubin, Jaron “Boots” Ennis and promoter Eddie Hearn are calling for a mega-clash between the middleweights.
While Vergil Ortiz Jr. made short work of Erickson Lubin on Saturday night in Fort Worth Jaron Ennis and his promoter Eddie Hearn sat attentively at ringside. With a clear goal: to bag the mega-fight in the middleweight division for early 2026.
Strong statement against Lima
Ennis (35-0, 31 knockouts), the former IBF and WBA welterweight world champion, advanced to the semi-main event in his last fight. There he made a strong statement with a brutal first round knockout against Uisma Lima. Now the 28-year-old US star wants to take on the next big name – Vergil Ortiz Jr.
“I’ll tell everyone straight up: This is the fight I want next,” Ennis told the media after the event. “This fight is generating even more hype now than it did two months ago. I have a strong fanbase – so let’s do this thing!”
“Our part is signed”
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that talks with DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions took place months ago. “We had a very positive meeting with DAZN about six months ago. We agreed that we’d fight in October, they’d fight in November – and then we’d go from there. Our part of the contract is signed. From their side, I don’t know exactly what will happen. But Eric Gomez from Golden Boy told me they’re still interested. So we’ll see.”
Hearn added: “This is the fight American boxing fans and DAZN viewers want to see. Two undefeated fighters in their prime – it’s the perfect matchup. We shouldn’t wait any longer, we should just go for it.”
A possible duel between Ennis and Ortiz Jr. would not only be a fight between two of the most dangerous punchers in the middleweight division, but also a real crowd-puller. Should the deal materialize, it would be one of the most spectacular “All-American showdowns” of the coming year.