After a rather lackluster rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian in Philadelphia on November 9th, fans are now on the edge of their seats, eager to discover who Jaron 'Boots' Ennis will face next. This performance has left many questioning his ability to move up in weight and take on the top-rung fighters at 154. Ennis, at 27, seemed mentally shattered as his promoter Eddie Hearn congratulated him. It was evident that he had once again fallen short, and this time, the disappointment was even greater than the first encounter with Chukhadzhian. He couldn't even bring himself to look Hearn in the eye, a classic sign of shame.

Hearn Backtracks on Potential Fight

What has become clear is that Eddie Hearn, Ennis' promoter, seems to have had a change of heart regarding a fight against the unbeaten WBC interim 154-lb champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. in early 2025. Hearn has not outright rejected the idea but has gone silent on the matter. This silence suggests that he may not be interested in pitting Boots against Vergil and potentially ruining his fighter's popularity. The damage done by the fight with Chukhadzhian is already significant.Vergil's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, is not happy with Hearn's decision to keep Boots (33-0, 29 KOs) from taking on the fight. He was confident that his fighter would hand the popular Philadelphia native his first career defeat. After witnessing Ennis struggle against the underdog Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs) in front of a large crowd at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on November 9th, Hearn must be concerned.Although Ennis won the fight by a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 119-107, 117-109, and 116-110, his performance revealed his limitations when it comes to moving up to 154. Hearn has not yet stated which fighter he intends to match Ennis against next, but it is likely that he will resume his efforts to arrange unification fights at 147 against one of the champions. He recently came close to setting up a fight between Ennis and WBO champion Brian Norman Jr., but he decided not to meet the asking price.

Jaron Ennis: Who's Next at 147?

If Vergil Ortiz Jr. is indeed out of the picture, here are the likely options for Ennis' next fight in 2025:- Brian Norman Jr.: This seems to be the fighter that Hearn will focus on matching Ennis against. While it may not be a highly anticipated fight, there is a certain level of danger due to Norman's punching power, youth, and toughness.- Eimantas Stanionis: Another potential opponent, Stanionis brings his own set of skills and challenges. His style could provide a different test for Ennis and offer an opportunity for growth.- Mario Barrios: Barrios is a force to be reckoned with in the 147-pound division. A fight with him would be a significant step up in competition for Ennis and could determine his future in the sport.- Conor Benn: Benn's presence in the boxing world adds an extra layer of excitement. A match with him would be a high-profile affair and would test Ennis in ways he has not yet experienced.Each of these options presents unique challenges and opportunities for Ennis. It will be interesting to see which path Hearn decides to take and how Ennis will respond in his next fight. Boxing fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Jaron 'Boots' Ennis' career.