Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis previously accepted less money, B-side billing, and even demands to cut his beard to secure a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. Hearn now states those terms are obsolete following Ennis’s unification victories.
The Matchroom promoter is pushing back against suggestions his camp avoided a fight with Ortiz. He argues that not only was a deal accepted, but that it was done entirely on Team Ortiz’s terms, highlighting his fighter’s desire to make the bout happen when neither held a world title. “Don’t forget, we accepted that fight and signed for that fight,” Hearn stated.
The concessions detailed by Hearn were extensive, covering financial splits, promotional billing, and personal appearance. He explained the demands made by the Ortiz camp. “Boots had to take less money than Vergil Ortiz because they wouldn’t take it unless he did. Boots had to be the B-side. They said it has to be Ortiz against Boots. I said, ‘Why? No one’s got a world championship.’ ‘No, we’re not taking the fight unless it is.'”
According to Hearn, the stipulations went beyond standard negotiations into peculiar territory. “They even asked him to cut his beard and not wear colorful gloves. All of the things that he agreed to do to have the opportunity to prove he was the best,” he said. These details illustrate the negotiating power Ortiz’s side held at the time.
However, circumstances have changed significantly. Ennis is now a unified light middleweight champion following his recent victory over Xander Zayas, a status that fundamentally alters his leverage in any future talks. Hearn is adamant that the old terms are invalid and a new agreement would have to reflect Ennis’s standing as a champion. “We will fight you,” Hearn said of Ortiz. “But as I said yesterday, today’s price is not yesterday’s price.”
For now, a fight with Ortiz may not be the immediate priority. Hearn confirmed that Sebastian Fundora is the preferred next opponent for Ennis, as that matchup presents an opportunity to collect another world title. The Ortiz fight remains a major draw, but one that will now be negotiated on entirely different terms.
