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Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis could be the generational bout needed at super welterweight
After relishing in back-to-back reigns of undisputed glory at super lightweight and welterweight, Terence Crawford did not try to clean out the 154-pound division.
Instead, ‘Bud’ made super welterweight a mere pitstop by defeating Israil Madrimov last summer to claim the WBA championship and vacant WBO interim title, only to jump up two more divisions and dominate Canelo Alvarez to snatch the undisputed super middleweight crown in September.
In being a one and done at super welterweight, the all-time pound-for-pound great left a void for the next generation to fill in the division.
If Vergil Ortiz Jr. is able to defeat Erickson Lubin in Texas on Saturday night , live on DAZN , Ortiz vs. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis could be the generational bout needed at super welterweight to coronate its new torchbearer.
Ortiz, 27, and Ennis, 28, are undefeated interim titleholders in the division, both thought to be entering their prime.
WBO super welterweight world champion Xander Zayas, 23, and WBC 154-pound world titleholder Sebastian Fundora, 27, are exciting suitors for the ultimate crown as well and already have hardware toward it. Plus, IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev and WBA champ Abass Baraou might have a say toward being king of the division as well, especially considering Zayas and Baraou will unify titles in January, as reported by Ring Magazine on Thursday.
But no two fighters have been creating more synergy toward this goal than Ortiz (23-0, 21 KOs) and Ennis (35-0 with 1 no contest, 31 KOs).
Their camps have been taking turns blaming each other for the showdown not being signed yet. That energy in of itself is only building more momentum toward this possible mega bout that does not need a world championship strap on the line to engage boxing fans and critics alike.
“You always want to win a world title but the fact is the best fight in the 154-pound division that can get made is ‘Boots’ against Vergil Ortiz,” Ennis’ Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told The Ring recently.
It is hard to disagree with that assertion as the fight would resolve plenty of inquiries about Ortiz and Ennis, while shaking up the division as a whole.
Ennis has been renowned for his brand of sweet science brilliance but maligned for his quality of opponents. Would he be able to manufacture a plan to have his hand raised against a gritty, pressuring and durable fighter like Ortiz?
Would ‘The Texas Machine,’ as rugged as he is, be able to figure out what appears to be a complex, deep bag of boxing skills that ‘Boots’ can dip into?
These are the kinds of questions that would be answered.
After all, 'Bud' Crawford's cameo at 154 pounds left a hole in the division that a mega fight like Ortiz vs. 'Boots' Ennis could fill for the new generation.
Ortiz' first step of trying to make it happen is defeating Lubin convincingly this weekend.
Watch Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Erickson Lubin live on DAZN
Ortiz Jr. and Lubin clash in Texas this Saturday, November 8, watch it live with a DAZN subscription. Monthly and annual options available
