Jaron Ennis Slams 147 Fighters For Ducking
Jaron Ennis says he is frustrated after his struggles to make a unification at 147.
Ennis successfully defended his IBF Welterweight Title after stopping David Avanesyan in round six in his last fight. It was the first defense of his belt after he became a champion once Terence Crawford moved up. Ennis has been linked with moving up to 154 to face Crawford. However, his focus appears to be on becoming undisputed at 147 first.
A fight against WBO Welterweight Champion Norman Jr. would help him achieve that. An offer was made to Norman Jr., who became the full champion once Crawford vacated. Norman Jr. is 26-0 with 20 knockouts. He stopped Giovani Santillan in his last fight. An offer was sent this week. However, it was to no avail, as the focus was elsewhere. But Norman has denied those claims.
Ennis Reacts
Aside from Norman Jr., there are possible unification fights against the other champions in the division: Eimantas Stanionis (WBA) and Mario Barrios (WBC). An offer was sent this week. However, it was to no avail as the focus was elsewhere, leaving Ennis frustrated.
“We just waiting right now. It’s still no news but I sent offers out to Barrios, Brian Norman, and Stanionis and it’s out of my hands now. I did all I could to make these fights happen and I put it in those guys hands now. First of all it’s not even up to the promoters, it’s up to us.
“I want these fights, I’m trying to collect these belts. I’m down here for one thing and one thing only, to be undisputed, to collect all the belts. Whoever got them belts, they got to come see me or we coming to see you. I’m coming to take them belts and be undisputed,” Ennis said
The news means Ennis will likely defend his belt against his IBF mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian. The IBF ordered the mandatory, meaning Ennis rematch the fighter who had beaten last year via a unanimous decision: 120-108, 120-108 and 120-108. Eddie Hearn has expressed his dissatisfaction at the mandatory, as he made it clear that he wanted Ennis in a unification.
Hearn Responds
“I want to make one thing clear, I heard some comments about Jaron Ennis, the mandatory has been called and I’m not over the moon about it because it’s a good fighter in Karen Chukhadzhian but it’s someone that he’s boxed before.
“There is nothing we can do in terms of the mandatory that has been called but we want to make the biggest fights out there. It’s frustrating, if it’s a fight that has to be ticked off quickly well we’ll do it. We want big fights for Jaron Ennis. The plan for ‘Boots’, unquestionably, is to be in unification fights, I’ve made a substantial offer to Marios Barrios to fight Jaron Ennis, let’s see what he says,” Hearn said
Ennis may face the same problems as Crawford in making the biggest fights at 147. However, his deal with Matchroom Boxing may change that. The Saudis work closely with Matchroom, as they want to put on the biggest fights. They have shown a willingness to put up the money. If Ennis continues to win in style, it is only a matter of time before the biggest bouts are made.
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