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Will Jaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz be boxing's next super-fight?
Terence Crawford beat Canelo Alvarez in the biggest fight of the year last month to become a five-weight world champion.
Over 70,000 fans packed into the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to witness history as two modern-day superstars went toe-to-toe for 12 rounds.
But what comes next? Boxing needs super-fights, yet there is nothing currently scheduled that will get hardcore and casual fans tuning in from around the world.
This weekend, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will make his super welterweight debut and he has already been linked with a clash against WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz.
Neither man is a household name yet, but here is why it could be boxing’s next super-fight.
Ennis and Ortiz building their fanbases
Ennis and Ortiz are not up there with the likes of Canelo and Anthony Joshua in terms of their fanbases right now. But they are heading in the right direction.
Ennis’s fight against Uisma Lima on Saturday night will be the third time he has fought in his home city of Philadelphia in his last four outings.
He has the backing of his hometown, which is crucial for any fighter.
Ortiz has received plenty of support whenever he has taken to the ring in his home state of Texas as well.
He has also dazzled in Las Vegas and delivered a disciplined performance in Saudi Arabia to overcome former champion Israil Madrimov last time out.
A lot of US fighters go under the radar nowadays, but Ennis and Ortiz have managed to keep fans interested in their development as they have moved onto the world stage.
Ducking accusations
Adding a bit of spice into the mix will do this rivalry no harm whatsoever.
A fight between Ennis and Ortiz has been spoken about for some time, and promoter Eddie Hearn admitted he believed it was a done deal earlier this year.
However, the two fighters have gone their separate ways for now, with Ortiz due to face fellow contender Erickson Lubin next month.
Ennis and Ortiz have both blamed each other for the fight not materialising yet, with accusations of ducking floating around.
Allowing a fight to marinate can be a good thing, but Ennis and Ortiz must not let the opportunity to fight one another pass them by.
If they want to prove they are the best super welterweight in the world, this fight should be made sooner rather than later.
Two unbeaten knockout artists at their peak
Ennis and Ortiz are 28 and 27, respectively. They ought to be at the peak of their powers right now.
They have also had 58 fights between them and neither man has tasted defeat. Ennis was involved in a no contest after an early clash of heads with Chris van Heerden in 2020, but that is the only blemish on his 35-fight record.
Ennis has stopped 30 of his 35 opponents, while Ortiz has only been taken the distance twice.
These are two heavy-handed fighters who will believe they can hurt each other.
This level of jeopardy would make for a fascinating contest, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as they know the fight could turn on its head with one punch.
Contrasting styles
Ennis and Ortiz are both big punchers, but their fighting styles are very different.
First of all, Ennis is a southpaw while Ortiz fights out of the orthodox stance. This brings an added element of intrigue.
The two men are the same height, but Ennis has a four-inch reach advantage. He would want to keep the fight at range, whereas Ortiz would need to get on the inside to land his trademark combinations.
Ennis has also shown he is happy to stand and trade at times during his career, and it is almost guaranteed that the fight would catch fire at some point.
Both men have proved they are well-rounded fighters who can box and brawl when the situation arises, and they have shown very few weaknesses to date.
As things stand, it is very difficult to pick a winner, which is exactly what fans want ahead of an elite-level fight.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Will we see Ennis vs Ortiz in 2026?
Ennis and Ortiz both need to come through their respective fights in the next month. If either fighter loses, a potential matchup will be off the table for now.
It should also be noted that neither man holds a full world title at this point. If Ennis or Ortiz could pick one up it would add an extra layer to the super-fight.
But having a championship belt on the line should not be the be all and end all in boxing. This fight is big enough as it pits two hungry, unbeaten fighters in their prime against one another.
Too many big fights have slipped by the wayside in recent years. As long as Ennis and Ortiz finish the year with wins, they should be doing all they can to get this super-fight over the line in 2026.
Watch Jaron Ennis vs. Uisma Lima live on DAZN
Ennis vs. Lima is live on DAZN this Saturday night, October 11. Watch the fight and whole card with a DAZN subscription.
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