What’s Next For Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis?

This fight makes the most sense for Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs), given the fact that he earned the interim WBA title on Saturday night. The WBA will “order” for Baraou to defend his title against Ennis next in an effort to reduce “interim titles,” as they have said in years past. The WBA creates interim titles and then turn around and say they have to eliminate them.

Eddie Hearn will say there is a mandatory opportunity that could get Ennis a title and will opt to go in that direction, rather than going after a big name. Hearn mentioned that they are going after Vergil Ortiz Jr. next, but if he comes away with the win in November, it is likely Ortiz won’t be ready until the Spring, opening an opportunity for Ennis to fight Baraou for the title. Ennis will get past Baraou, win the WBA title, and look at that point to make a fight with one of the other champions or Ortiz.

Vergil Ortiz Jr.

This was the fight that was supposed to take place this past weekend, but Ennis fought Lima instead. According to Team Ortiz and Turki Alalshikh, Ennis opted not to take the fight with Ortiz, as he needed a tune-up fight or two at junior middleweight before going into a big fight with Ortiz. After Ennis beat Lima, he said that he was ready for Ortiz next, but first, Ortiz must handle business in November against Erickson Lubin.

Ennis-Ortiz is THE fight at 154, but some may think it needs more marinating. Initially, I disagreed with that take, but revisiting the potential fight, it could be bigger if one of them won a full world title or if they both did. Despite having tough fights that Ortiz has been in, he still hasn’t won a full world title. Ennis has a path to the WBA title, and there is a potential path for Ortiz to face Xander Zayas for the WBO title. That’s if, of course, Zayas doesn’t instead go for a rumored voluntary defense in Puerto Rico. If both were to earn world titles, a junior middleweight unification bout in New York or Los Angeles would make that fight an event on a level above what it is currently.

Jermell Charlo

Although this is a bit of a long shot, Charlo would be the perfect next opponent for Ennis. Charlo never lost his titles, so technically, he is still the lineal champion at 154. If Ennis truly wants to gain the respect of the boxing public, a win over Charlo would get him that instantly. Regardless of the time away from the ring, facing Charlo is the type of fight that will get people behind Ennis.

Stylistically, a Charlo-Ennis fight would make magic and is an easy PPV to sell. If I had to choose from any of the names mentioned, the Charlo fight is the one I would prefer for Ennis, as he is at his physical prime right now and needs to capitalize on it.

Is 2026 The Year of ‘Boots’?

2026 has to be the year that Ennis breaks out and fulfills all of those thoughts that fans have of him being boxing’s next American star. He cannot afford to face a Lima-type opponent in 2026, as that would only hurt his credibility. It’s time for Ennis to be the guy he says he is and face the toughest challenges of his career.