Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz React to Their Fight Falling Through

In the boxing world, things can change in the blink of an eye, and that’s exactly what happened this week. Fans were buzzing with excitement when news broke that rising stars Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. were set to face off on February 22 in Saudi Arabia. This was a fight many had been hoping for, but it quickly unraveled, leaving both fighters and their supporters disappointed. Here’s the scoop on what went down and what’s next for these two talented boxers.

The Big Matchup That Almost Was

Initially, the plan was for Ennis and Ortiz to clash in the super welterweight division at 154 pounds. Ortiz, known for his knockout power, holds an impressive record of 22 wins with 21 knockouts. On the other hand, Ennis is the IBF welterweight titleholder and boasts a perfect record of 33 wins and 29 KOs. Both fighters were ready to show the world what they could do in the ring.

However, everything changed when Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, announced that Ennis had decided to pump the brakes on the fight. According to reports, he wanted to compete at 147 pounds instead, throwing a wrench into the plans and leaving fans frustrated.

Ortiz’s Reaction: No Ducking Here

After the news broke, Vergil Ortiz took to social media to express his disappointment. He made it clear that he’s always ready to fight anyone, stating, “Every single person that I have been offered to fight, I said yes.” Ortiz emphasized that if he’s not in the ring, it’s not because he’s avoiding a fight. “It takes two to tango in boxing, so if I’m not in that ring fighting someone, know it’s not my fault!” he declared. This was a strong message aimed at anyone suggesting he was ducking competition.

In response to Ortiz’s post, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, chimed in, assuring him, “You will have a great fight.” Additionally, Xander Zayas hinted that he’d be willing to step in and face Ortiz, saying he accepted an offer to fight him.

Ennis Speaks Up: Setting the Record Straight

On his end, Jaron Ennis wanted to clear the air. He took to social media to address the situation, stating, “I saw the rumors just like y’all did about the fight with Vergil. I was unaware that alleged negotiations were being made on my end.” Ennis stressed that fans shouldn’t believe anything unless it came directly from him. He also mentioned he would reveal his plans about fighting at 147 or moving up to 154 later.

With Ennis seemingly stepping back from this matchup, there are talks of Sebastian Fundora possibly taking his place to fight Ortiz. But Zayas is now the leading contender, adding to the intrigue about who will ultimately face Ortiz next.

What’s Next for Ortiz and Ennis?

The Ortiz-Ennis fight was expected to headline a card featuring the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Ortiz’s last fight was in August, where he pulled off a gutsy win against Serhii Bohachuk after surviving two knockdowns in what many considered a fight-of-the-year contender. Ennis recently scored a unanimous decision victory against Karen Chukhadzhian in November.

With this fight falling apart, fans are left wondering who Ortiz will face next. Will it be Zayas, Fundora, or someone else? The drama in boxing is far from over, and as both fighters navigate their careers, fans will be eagerly watching for their next moves. Stay tuned, because we all know that in boxing, anything can happen!