Teofimo Lopez and Jaron Ennis look set to meet in a huge showdown.
Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh revealed this past week that plans are in place to try and make the fight between Lopez and ‘Boots’ later this year.
Lopez is the current WBO super-lightweight champion, having won the belt in June 2023 with a victory against Josh Taylor, making two defences of the belt to date. He also reigned at lightweight, claiming a notable victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko.
It looked like Lopez would return in March for a defence against Subriel Matias before negotiations broke down, but that has now paved the way for the meeting against Ennis.
‘Boots’ became IBF welterweight champion in November 2023 after he was elevated from interim status due to Terence Crawford being stripped of the belt.
He has defended it against David Avanesyan and Karen Chukhadzhian so far, and was in talks for a move up to 154lbs to face WBC interim super-welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz next month.
Just like Lopez’s planned bout against Matias, the talks between Ennis and Ortiz couldn’t be finalised. Instead, ‘Boots’ appears to be set for a unification showdown against WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis in April.
With a win there, Ennis will seemingly turn his attention to Lopez. Top trainer Robert Garcia is one of the big names that has predicted how Lopez vs. Ennis could go, telling Fight Hub TV who he would side with.
“That’s a tough one. I’ve got to go with my boy Teofimo, but it’s a tough one.”
Lopez has recently begun working with Canelo Alvarez‘s trainer Eddy Reynoso, and Garcia feels that will have a big impact.
“I think it’s good for him. He needed a change. A new voice is going to make a big difference.”
The fight between Lopez and Ennis could have a big impact on what happens with the WBO super-lightweight title, after a big ultimatum was recently given to Lopez over the belt.
