Vergil Ortiz Jnr’s manager Rick Mirigian has accused Jaron Ennis of “changing his mind” regarding a potential fight between them.
It had been reported that they would be matched at junior middleweight on the undercard of the likely rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 22.
However, according Mirigian, the 27-year-old “Boots” Ennis has been “lied” to, contributing to further reports that Sebastian Fundora could replace Ennis as Ortiz’s opponent.
“You said you wanted Vergil Ortiz at 154 about 22 times,” Mirigian posted on social media. “Your father [and trainer Derek ‘Bozy’] said you guys made us an offer and we rejected it on video two weeks ago, which as we all know is not true and someone had to lie to him.
“I love Eddie Hearn and think he’s one of the top promoters that will further the sport and is and will in the years to come and he said he wants you and Ortiz at 154 more times than he has hugged Anthony Joshua. It’s ok if you changed your mind and realized that Vergil Ortiz is too strong, too fast, too big and too skilled now. Ortiz has already signed and agreed to do the fight and did so before I could finish what the deal was.
“You’re one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Gifted; athletic; skilled and a rare talent. I know it’s hard to lose all that in one fight but that’s what the sport is about – you will be ok after, I promise.
“It’s Christmas time in the US so give the fans what they want so badly – Ortiz-Ennis for a super fight. It’s not [Daniel] Dubois or Bivol or anything else over here they want. Let us know soon if you’re putting yourself to the ultimate test as a fighter and giving the fans what they want and making a career-high pay day or just simply going to do another fight at 147 that no one can even pronounce or know who the opponent is, let alone care about. Ortiz is a different breed.
“Hope to see you in Saudi Arabia but be careful what you wish for… these boys different at 154 and hit like a truck.”
Philadelphia’s Ennis defended his IBF welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian earlier in November.
Ortiz, 26, defeated Serhii Bohachuk in August. Fundora, also 26, has remained inactive since defeating Tim Tszyu in March.
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