Eddie Hearn wants WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez to fight new IBF champ Richardson Hitchins next in a unification contest in Brooklyn, New York. Hearn sees a fight between the trash-talking Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) and Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) that would appeal to fans.
Interestingly, Teofimo called out Hearn’s fighter, IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, last Saturday, saying he wants to move up to 147 to face him next. However, rather than Hearn choosing to go in that direction, he’s pushing for the Teofimo-Hitchins unification fight to happen next.
Boots was NOT even mentioned by Hearn. What does that tell you about Ennis’ standing with him? It ain’t good. I’m with Hearn on this. Hitchins is a diamond in the rough and the one that he should be pouring his time, money, and energy into.
Hearn’s New Favorite
This could indicate that Boots is on the outs with Hearn because he’s failed to shine in his last four fights against Karen Chukhadzhian x 2, David Avanesyan, and Roiman Villa. Those four consecutive poor performances and Ennis’s complete lack of charisma (33-0, 29 KOs) signal that he’s not star material or one that Hearn should be pouring his money into to set up big fights.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Hearn dumps Boots at the end of his multi-fight contract with Matchroom. Ennis has had two fights already and looked horrible and nowhere near star quality.
“Teofimo against Richardson is a massive fight for Brooklyn, but it’s also a fight for Riyadh,” Eddie Hearn told the media last Saturday night following Richardson Hitchins’ win over Liam Paro. “Him against Teofimo is a massive fight for Brooklyn, but if he doesn’t go there, he can go to Riyadh. [Jose ‘Rayo’] Valenzuela boxed on a Riyadh show.”
The Making Of A Star
See what I mean? Hearn wants Teo for Hitchins, and I can’t blame him. Eddie understands that Richardson is a talent that he can quickly transform into a global superstar. He’s got more potential to achieve that than Shakur Stevenson, who is less entertaining than Hitchins inside and outside the ring. Hearn inked the New Jersey native Shakur, thinking he could make a star out of him, and he’s in the same boat as Boots. He’s not performing.
Richardson, 27, has more star potential than Boots and is well worth it for Hearn to set up fights that he can sell to the public. As we saw during the build-up for Hitchins’ title challenge against IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro last Saturday, he’s able to create interest in his fights with his theatrical WWE showmanship, trash-talking, and naturally over-the-top personality.
Boots Ennis is the mark and lacks the spark for Hearn to be subsidizing for matches that won’t attract interest from the public due to Jaron’s lack of charisma and another poor showing in the ring.
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