Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has announced on social media that 2025 will be a “terrible” year for him. The 27-year-old is targeting the welterweight titles to become the undisputed champion.
Some believe Boots lacks the ambition, grit and sense of adventure to move up to 154 and 160 for bigger money fights.
(Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) is still hoping to unify the 147 welterweight division, after turning down an opportunity to move up to 154 for bigger challenges against WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
147: A dead end?
Some boxing fans believe Boots lacks the courage and ambition to do more in his career. He would rather play it safe, working tirelessly towards his goal of becoming the undisputed deadweight champion of the welterweight division.
That must be frustrating for the promoter Eddie Hearn because there are so many big names at 154, 160 and 168, and he could match Boots Ennis with him if he was willing to risk his career. Staying at 147 is a dead end for Boots, 27, and Hearn must know that more than anyone.
Hearn could accommodate Boots in 2025 by giving him one unification fight at light heavyweight, but no more.
Unless Hearn is willing to pay the other 147lb champions a king’s ransom, they won’t fight Ennis because their chances of winning are slim. They better hold on to their belts and milking them.
Boots’ recent dismal performance against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9 may have destroyed what little ambition was left in his body, leaving him as the risk-averse fighter we see now.
Hearn’s effort in vain
Karen schooled Ennis for 12 rounds, outboxing, outshooting, and outshooting him in front of his fans. After that, I’d love to be a fly on the wall to hear what Hearn had to say privately about his thoughts on Boot’s performance. I seriously doubt Hearn will re-sign with Boots when his contract with Matchroom expires as he isn’t going anywhere.
There are so many big fights where Hearn could match Boots if he’s brave and wants to challenge himself by going up to 154, 160, 168 and 175. He has the frame to compete in all those divisions, but he’s not going to do it. Something is holding him back.
I’d say the best Hearn can hope for with Ennis in 2025 is a miserable unification fight against WBA light heavyweight champion Eimantas Stanionis. That’s about it. Bring him back with Karen for the trilogy after that match.
2024 was a good year, but 2025 will be a great and blessed year for me! 2025 I’m in that mode! I can’t wait 👑🫶🏾 Keep up the same energy!
— Boots (@JaronEnnis) January 2, 2025
