Boots Ennis’ Stagnation At Welterweight: Time To Move Up

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis needs to consider moving up to 154 if he can’t get the unification fight against WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. made.

There’s no fan interest in a rematch between Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) and Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs), who he beat by a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision by the scores 120-109 x 3 last year in January 2023.

The Barren Landscape of Welterweight

The fan interest isn’t there for a rematch between Boots and Chukhadzhian. It would slow Ennis’ career growth if he takes the rematch that few fans in the U.S. or elsewhere are calling for.

The boxing public recognizes that the 147 division is barren of life, and they want Ennis to move up to 154 to chase the aging Terence Crawford and these fighters:

– Tim Tszyu
– Terence Crawford
– Vergil Ortiz Jr.
– Isrial Madrimov
– Erickson Lubin
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Sebastian Fundora
– Charles Conwell
– Jesus Ramos
– Errol Spence Jr.

Boots, 27, has few options at 147 if he stays at welterweight to complete his goal of becoming undisputed champion before moving up to 154.

154: A Division Ripe for Conquest

If Boots stays at 147 to defend against Chukhadzhian in a rematch, it would be a signal to the fans that he lacks the self-confidence required to move up to 154 to chase the bigger threats, the ones that would help move his career forward. Even if Crawford, 36, chooses to continue to ignore Ennis, there are still plenty of appealing options for him to fight in the weight class that will help further his career.

If Boots stays at 147, these are his only options:

– Karen Chukhadzhian: rematch
– Brian Norman Jr: Maybe if Boots is willing to wait a year or two for the fight to happen finally.
– Mario Barrios: Fighting a guy trounced by Keith Thurman and Gervonta Davis.
– Conor Benn

Promoter Eddie Hearn would be happy if Boots were to fight Conor Benn because it would be a nice little in-house fight. It would sell in the UK but not in the U.S. American fans don’t rate Benn.