Promoter Eddie Hearn is considering the possibility of Jaron “Boots” Ennis relinquishing his IBF welterweight title and moving up to 154 to face former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov or former WBC interim world champion Serhiy Bohachuk.
Chasing Hearn’s Influence
Fans believe Hearn is just chasing fame, throwing out Madrimov and Bohachuk with no intention of Boots relinquishing his IBF 147lb title to move up to 154lb and face these hazardous predators. These guys hit too tough, are too tough and advanced for the newborn cub Boots.
If Hearn thought Ennis could swim with the sharks at 154lbs he would have told him to vacate his IBF ticket a long time ago and move up because there is absolutely no one in the world Boots could fight in the depleted 147lbs division. It is empty, barren and a wasteland.
Ennis staying at welterweight protects him from the predators lurking at 154 who would like to expose him and ruin everything. The welterweight division is like the planet Venus, completely devoid of life. That’s why Boots is more than joyful to stay there.
The shoes will probably protect against Karen Chukhadjian in a rematch on November 9. It’s an effortless fight for Boots and it won’t cost Hearn an arm and a leg to make. It’s a fight Hearn seems interested in but won’t admit to.
Stubborn negotiations
Hearn is not keen on the idea of Boots (32-0, 29 KOs) rematching IBF mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9 in Philadelphia, but he could still salvage plans for a unification fight with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. if he sweetens the $1.7 million offer, raising it from just $500,000 to $2.2 million.
Despite this, Hearn has stubbornly stood his ground, refusing to agree to Team Norman Jr.’s request, which some boxing fans believe is to protect his profit margin for the Boots-Norman Jr. fight. Although Hearn claims the money Norman Jr. would receive would essentially split him 50-50 with Boots Ennis for the November 9 fight, fans believe Jaron will receive $5 million from Shakur.
Norman Jr., who would like to receive $2.2 million in addition to the $5 million Boots could receive, would reduce the profit margin from the event unless His Excellency Turki Alalshikh agreed to come to Hearn’s aid.
Battle of the Dead
“It’s dead” [Boots-Norman fight]Either we fight Chukhadzhian or we retreat. I want [Boots] unite [147-lb] “In this division, I have a plan to hold a Monster event in November,” promoter Eddie Hearn said on IFL TV YouTube channel when asked what he was doing with Jaron “Boots” Ennis now that his unification fight with Brian Norman Jr. will no longer take place on November 9th.
Ennis-Norman Jr. is dead only because of Hearn’s clumsy approach to negotiating the fight. If it was American champion Bob Arum, he would have found a way to make the fight happen immediately, but he’s experienced and doesn’t let emotions get in the way of matchmaking.
“Well, let’s see how the bidding goes. [for Boots vs. Karen Chukhadzhian rematch]”- Hearn said. “I also have no objection to Boots weighing 154 pounds. I have contacted [Serhii] Bohachuk. I think it’s a great fight. You’ve got Israil Madrimov. You’ve got some great fights at 154 outside of the champions.”
Again, Hearn won’t let Boots move up to 154 to face Madrimov or Bohachuk because he has to know he’ll either lose or be beaten by them. We saw what Madrimov did to Terence Crawford and what Bohachuk did to Vergil Ortiz Jr. Hearn doesn’t want the same thing to happen to Boots.
“I would like to fight the champion, but we have to make some decisions in the next 24 hours,” Hearn said. “But the decisions will not include Brian Norman, [his manager] Adrian [Clark] or Derrick. I would love to fight them, but sometimes you don’t see the opportunity. Maybe things will work out and we’ll do a unification, but he won’t get any more money,” Hearn said.
So, Hearn let Boots down Ennis again, just like he did with Demetrius Andrade and just like he does with Shakur Stevenson. If you’re Ennis, you can’t be joyful to hear Hearn being stingy about fixing fights for him. Being locked into a fight with Karen because Hearn won’t sweeten the purse of a mere $500k to $2.2 million for a fight with Norman can’t make him joyful.
“That’s it. It’s money, but that’s okay. He [Norman Jr] he can fight on Keyshawn’s preliminary card for 200 bags [thousand against Derreick Cuevas on November 8th]”- said Hearn.
Sure, Hearn could easily come up with the extra $500k Norman Jr wants for the Boots Ennis fight, but he won’t. He’d rather Boots fight Karen than give up his profits and put him in a risky fight he could lose. Would Hearn do that if it was Anthony Joshua? I bet, but keeping AJ joyful is key.
Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.
Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.
Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.
Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.
Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.
Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.
There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.
Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.
McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.
Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.
Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.
After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.
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