One of the most anticipated fights between Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. is off the calendar and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn is the reason behind it. This decision comes in the wake of Ennis’ poor display in his fight against Karen Chukhadzhian in a rematch on November 9. Ortiz Jr., an unbeaten WBC interim junior middleweight champion, is far from being an easier option for Ennis who has not been impressive in his recent bouts.
Deciding to withdraw from the fight shows Hearn’s attempt to protect Ennis as he prepares to go through the lower tier of the welterweight category. Will this end up being a wise move?
Why Hearn Decided To Avoid Vergil Ortiz Jr
At the junior middleweight division, the current WBC interim champion, Vergil Ortiz Jr, has a perfect record with 22 victories with 21 coming by way of knockout. He is also renowned for his strength and energy causing him to excel in his fighting style thus being a tricky nut to crack for any contender. De La Heyen was furious about the decision made by Hearn to reconsider the bout, saying that Ortiz would easily thrash the comparatively inexperienced Jaron Ennis.
As for Chukhadzhian, though Jaron Ennis came into the fight with a 33-0 record and 29 KOs, the fight turned out to be a tough one for him. The match was staged at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia where Ennis landed countless punches from his opponent who was better prepared and calm. The lack of defense in Jaron Ennis became noticeable, and people questioned whether he would have the might to stand up against Ortiz Jr.
Chukhadzhian Exposes Jaron Ennis’ Weaknesses
In their recent fight, the stronger was Karen Chukhadzhian as he had a higher record of 24 victories and 3 defeats, but he also demonstrated better planning and performance. During the battle, Chukhadzhian was able to effectively use well-timed combinations and good footwork to make Jaron Ennis uncomfortable. Some believed that Ennis appeared more like a challenger than the rightful IBF welterweight champion. These tired displays cast doubt on whether he is prepared for a stiffer challenge.
It can be deduced that Eddie Hearn was wise to avoid the Ortiz Jr matchup as a way of preserving Ennis’ future career. Hearn continues to protect Ennis at a 147-pound welterweight to minimize competition as he dominates the division. While fighting at junior middleweight (154 pounds), Jaron Ennis was more likely to face stiff competition in fights that could result in losses and put at risk his promising career.
If Ennis were to go up to 154 pounds, he would face a powerful, technically sound, and a much more experienced opponent. For now, however, Hearn may want to continue to find ways to ensure that Ennis faces off against other fighters within the welterweight division while bolstering Ennis’s confidence and credibility.
Final Thoughts
Eddie Hearn’s apprehensive management of Jaron Ennis’s career underlines the challenges of shielding a fighter’s record while at the same time trying to develop him. Hearn is wise not to jump straight into a bout with Vergil Ortiz Jr., as this tact allows Jaron Ennis the luxury of continued development as well as training to overcome the flaws that have been laid bare in the recent bouts.
Although boxing fans will have to wait longer for this potential mega-fight of the century, it is still important to bring out Ennis’ development and potential in future tough competition. For now, the welterweight division remains quite uncompetitive but suitable for Jaron Ennis to establish its position and obtain the necessary fighting experience.
