Jaron Ennis called out Vergil Ortiz Jr after his first round demolition job of Uisma Lima, signalling that he was ready to take over the super welterweight division.
‘Boots’ Ennis made quick work of Lima, dropping him twice in the opening two minutes and forcing a referee stoppage. Though many criticised the matchmaking, there is little doubt that this new division suits Ennis after vacating his unified titles at welterweight and moving up.
In the ring post-fight, the switch-hitter from Philadelphia put the whole 154lbs scene on notice, namechecking Ortiz as well as Jermell Charlo and IBF Champion Bakram Murtazaliev.
Speaking to ES News, Ortiz was not surprised about the outcome of the Lima fight, saying he found “nothing to talk about.”
“There’s really nothing to talk about. We all knew how it was going to go down.”
Asked how it was to hear his name called out in the ring post-fight, Ortiz was unfazed.
“I feel the same. Like I said, words aren’t gonna change the outcome. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna happen.”
Finally, responding to trainer Stephen ‘Breadman’ Edwards verdict that the fight was 80/20 in Ennis’ favour, Ortiz said:
“That’s his opinion, right? So there’s no room for excuses when I beat him.”
Before any fight talk with ‘Boots’ continues, Ortiz is fully focused on facing Erickson Lubin on November 8 at Dickies Arena, Fort Worth. He will put his WBC Interim Super Welterweight title on the line. With a win, the Ennis fight could happen in the first quarter of 2026.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says his charge Ennis has signed his part of the deal for the Ortiz bout, apparently leaving it in the hands of Ortiz and his promotional team, Golden Boy, to make the next move.
