IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis seems to have earned himself a lifelong critic after what happened to the potential fight against interim WBC super welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. The duo was all set to clash on the stacked February 22nd card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and per reports, they had even come to a verbal agreement to fight at 154 pounds. 

However, boxing journalist Dan Rafael later revealed that the fight had fallen apart, with the organizers approaching WBC and WBO super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora to replace Ennis. Now, Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian is going on a scorched-earth campaign against Ennis, putting all the blame squarely on ‘Boots’ and his team for going back on their word to fight at 154 pounds.

In a post on Instagram, Mirigian shared statements from Ennis after his fight against Karen Chukhadzhian, where he expressed his desire to move to 154 pounds. “I think it might be time to go to 154. I felt good, but I feel at 154 I’m going to be way better and my pop will be how it’s supposed to be,” Mirigian quoted Ennis saying. 

Mirigian turned his attention towards Ennis’ promoter, Matchroom Boxing honcho, Eddie Hearn, sharing Hearn’s statement after the fight. “I’ve noticed this week he’s been much tighter at 147. Perhaps it is time to move up to 154,” Mirigian quoted Hearn saying. It’s worth noting that Ennis showcased the flattest performance against Chukhadzhian last month.

Regardless, Mirigian quoted Hearn saying, “It’s very difficult to do it when you want to win belts and you hold a world championship. But also if it’s affecting your performance you have to move up.” Ortiz’s manager even roped in Ennis’ father who had claimed Ortiz’s team rejected an offer to fight him.

“Your dad knew the weight when he said you made us an offer [a] couple [of] weeks ago and that we turned it down which was pure BS and for sure your promoter @matchroomboxing not only knew the weight but said it on air multiple times at 154,” Mirigian wrote. He questioned Ennis, asking why he would make such false claims only to later avoid the biggest payday of his career.

“Why do all that and get WHAT YOU WANT AND THE BIGGEST CHECKBOOK IN BOXING HISTORY AND CAREER HIGH PAYDAY FOR YOU AND BIGGEST FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE and then run away?” Mirigian wrote. Ortiz’s manager alleged that Ennis was unwilling to fight at 154 pounds despite previously expressing interest in doing so—but how accurate is that claim?

Respected boxing journalist reveals what derailed the Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight 

After the fight officially went to the gutters, Dan Rafael hopped on X to reveal what was the reason behind the fight’s failure. Rafael suggested that Ennis’ team wanted Vergil Ortiz Jr. to come down in weight to 147 pounds for the fight to happen. “The notion by anyone that [Vergil Ortiz Jr.] would come down to 147 is comedy,” Rafael wrote. “Guy ended up in the hospital at his last 147 weight cut.”

It’s also worth noting that Eddie Hearn has recently flipped the script, claiming that Ennis wants to fight at 147 pounds to capture the undisputed title in the division. Regardless, Rafael claimed, “Why Ennis’ team wasting everyone’s time just to put 147 in the paperwork at the last minute is disingenuousness of the highest order.”

That said, it appears Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is not quite ready to stand up to Vergil Ortiz Jr.’s level. Based on their previous statements, Ennis might have shot himself in the foot. Still, it would be interesting to see who the IBF champion ends up fighting next. Do you think Ennis is avoiding Vergil Ortiz Jr.?