Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, with a record of 32-0 and 29 KOs, has been dominating the welterweight division with his size, power, and talent. Moving up to the 154-pound division could prove to be a mistake as Ennis will lose the advantages he has enjoyed in the welterweight comfort zone. He has been able to make a name for himself and earn decent money by fighting smaller opponents without facing someone of quality. The prospect of facing bigger, more powerful fighters at 154 could potentially derail his career.
If Ennis decides to move up to 154, he will be exposing himself to fighters with the ability to hurt him. His lack of solid defensive skills and the possibility of facing fierce opponents could lead to a downfall in his career. Fighters such as Serhii Bohachuk, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and Israil Madrimov could pose serious threats to Ennis at the junior middleweight division.
Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, recently failed to negotiate a fight with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr over a relatively small amount of $500K. Additionally, Hearn lost the purse bid for Ennis’ mandatory defense of his IBF title against Karen Chukhadzhian. These negotiation failures raise concerns about the management of Ennis’ career and the missed opportunities to showcase his talent in front of large audiences.
Boxing pundit Chris Algieri believes that Ennis would be making a mistake by moving up to 154, as he would be giving up the size advantage he currently holds at welterweight. Algieri emphasizes the need for Ennis to adjust his fighting style and defensive approach when facing bigger and more talented opponents in the junior middleweight division. The transition to 154 could prove to be challenging for Ennis, considering the caliber of fighters in that weight class.
Ennis’ decision to move up to 154 could potentially result in a setback in his career. His lack of defensive skills and relative lack of power compared to his potential opponents at junior middleweight could lead to early defeats and difficulty in re-establishing himself if he were to return to welterweight. Facing fighters like Israil Madrimov in his first fight at 154 could pose a significant challenge for Ennis, given Madrimov’s ability to disrupt top-tier fighters like Terence Crawford.
It seems that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis would be better off staying at welterweight, where he has established himself as a dominant force. Moving up to 154 could expose him to greater risks and potentially hinder his career progression. With the advice of experts like Chris Algieri and the failed negotiations with potential opponents, Ennis should carefully consider his next moves to avoid potential career setbacks in the future.