Trainer Bernie Davis says his Vergil Ortiz Jr. team is pricing him out for the Jaron “Boots” Ennis fight, asking for 10 million dollars for it to happen. Davis points out that this is a “championship level” fight between them, as neither holds world titles at 154.
Ortiz Jr.’s starting price tag
As Bernie mentions, the $10 million that Team Vergil Jr. wants to fight Ennis, it may be a signal that they are not interested in this fight. Ortiz Jr’s mention of Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence as two fighters he would like to face is a mighty signal of where he is headed.
Ortiz Jr. (24-0, 22 KO) is the WBC interim junior middleweight champion, but that is not the case. Sebastian Fundora holds the full WBC title. Vergil Jr. he had just won the interim belt, which he won by controversial 12-round majority decision against Serhii Bohachuk on August 10, 2024.
The problem of Oscar’s hushed rise
Bernie says Ennis (35-0, 31 KO) has more ‘hype’ [popularity] around him than Vergil Jr., which partly has to do with his promoter, Eddie Hearn, grilling him during interviews. Additionally, “Boots” looked impressive in the way he won, showing off boxing skills that put even Terence Crawford to shame.
In contrast, Ortiz Jr., promoted by Golden Boy, was not as widely discussed in interviews with his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Vergil Jr looks more like a straight one working class warrior who defeats you and defeats his opponents. He has very snail-paced hand speed, moves slowly and seems to compensate for his size.
Why $10 million doesn’t make business sense
“It’s too much,” coach Bernie Davis said MillCity Boxingin reaction to news that Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s manager, Rick Mirigian, wants $10 million for Ortiz Jr. for the fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis. “It’s not even a championship fight. It’s a championship-level fight, and Vergil Ortiz hasn’t proven he’s a $10 million fighter.
Without Turki Alalshikh’s involvement, $10 million would seem far too high to fight Ennis. Vergil Jr. he is not a PPV competitor and neither is “Boots.” Even if they put this fight on DAZN PPV, it’s unlikely it would attract enough PPV buys to cover the cost of purses.
“Now if shiekh [Turki Alalshikh] he wants to get involved because there’s a buzz around this fight,” Davis said. “I really think there’s more buzz around ‘Boots.’ I think Vergil has a solid following, but the buzz around “Boots.”
Is Team Ortiz protecting Zero?
“I think so, guys [Team Ortiz Jr.] they think that since they could lose and that would set them back, “We want as much money as we can get out of this situation.” “I’m not criticizing them for trying this, but I think they’re trying to inflate the price,” Diaz said.
It’s demanding to predict whether Turki would want to get involved in the Ortiz Jr. fight. vs. Ortiz Jr. Entertainment-wise, he should want it because it’s a better fight on paper than the ones he’s had involving boxers like Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson. These guys’ recent fights have been painfully tedious on Turki’s cards. At least in the case of Ennis vs. Ortiz Jr. this is a match that is sure to be a lot of fun.
Bob Smith wrote for Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the site’s longest-serving contributors. With over a decade of experience, he has established himself as a senior boxing writer who accurately covers the global fight scene.
Bob’s work includes fight reports, news and features featuring world champions and emerging fighters alike, giving fans a clear picture of the sport’s past and present. Known for his consistency, accuracy and deep understanding of boxing, Bob remains a trusted voice for readers who want to stay up to date with global martial arts news.
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