Trainer Kenny Ellis believes Jaron Ennis can wait for Vergil Ortiz

Trainer Kenny Ellis is optimistic the much-anticipated fight between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jnr will happen in due time.

Welterweight Ennis, of Philadelphia, saw his impending slugfest with Texas-born Ortiz on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, fall through after negotiations broke down, a development which saw Ortiz blaming Ennis for ducking him.

But responding to a question about the fight not happening, Ellis told Fight Hype that it was just a matter of time for the fight to take place.

“You can’t rush the fight and do something here that you feel like you’re not ready or you don’t wanna do right now,” Ellis said.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Ennis, 33-0 (29 KOs), is weighing up his options after denying Ortiz’s ducking claims. The IBF 147-pound champion could opt for a unification bout before moving up to 154 to challenge for honors.

Ellis supports Ennis’ move.

“He wants to make some defenses at 147 and then move up to 154. I don’t think he has to move to 154 now at all cost.”

In the meantime, former WBA 154-pound titlist Israil Madrimov has replaced Ennis as Ortiz’s opponent on Riyadh Season’s February 22 card. The fight is on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol’s rematch.

When asked whether the fight not happening would affect Ennis’ quest for greatness, Ellis said, “No, Boots can fight and doesn’t need what the world is saying.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].