Jaron Ennis Nears Three-Belt Unification With Josh Kelly

A three-belt unification fight between Jaron Ennis and IBF champion Josh Kelly appears to be taking shape.

Ennis holds the WBA and WBO titles after stopping Xander Zayas in the seventh round back in June. Kelly, meanwhile, captured his belt with a decision win over Bakhram Murtazaliev in January and made a successful defense against Caoimhin Agyarko in July, though a nose injury from that fight required minor surgery — trainer Adam Booth said in August he expected Kelly to be ready within about eight weeks.

Names like Vergil Ortiz Jr. and WBC titleholder Sebastian Fundora have also come up as potential Ennis opponents, but Kelly's shared promotional ties with Ennis make this matchup easier to put together.

Fundora is tied up until at least October 17, when he defends against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, so he's not a near-term option regardless. Beating Kelly would leave just one fight standing between Ennis and undisputed status at 154 pounds — a rematch or showdown with Fundora.