Will Jaron Ennis Become Undisputed
9/5/2024

Will Jaron Ennis Become Undisputed

Jaron "Boots" Ennis is sitting at an impressive 32-0 record with 29 knockouts and currently holds the IBF welterweight title. At just 147 pounds, he’s become one of the most talked-about fighters in the division, with fans eager to see him unify the belts. However, despite his dominance, there are still three other champions in his weight class: Mario Barrios (WBC), Eimantas Stanionis (WBA), and Brian Norman Jr. (WBO).

Interestingly, all three have expressed a willingness to fight Ennis, claiming they aren’t afraid of the challenge. Yet, for some reason, none of them have actually stepped up to face him. This has left Ennis in a frustrating position, with his next fight being a rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian—a fighter he already decisively beat. That fight, which wasn’t exactly thrilling, saw Chukhadzhian in survival mode as Ennis struggled to cut off the ring. While Boots won by unanimous decision, it’s safe to say that no one is asking for a repeat of that bout.

What the fans really want is for the welterweight division to be unified. We want to see Boots take on the other champions and crown an undisputed king at 147. But instead, Ennis is caught in the awkward position of being an elite fighter who hasn’t yet been truly tested against top-tier opposition.

Critics argue that while Ennis shows flashes of brilliance, we’ve yet to see him in a tough, defining fight. And while that’s a fair point, the bigger question is: why aren’t the other champions lining up to test him?

It seems like many of these fighters are hesitant to risk their undefeated records. Some are reportedly pricing themselves out of potential matchups by demanding outrageous sums of money. Others say they’re willing to fight Boots, only to go in a different direction when contracts are on the table.

The fear of losing that "0" in the loss column appears to be holding back some fighters. But at the end of the day, a loss doesn’t define a career—it’s how a fighter responds to it that matters. These guys are young, and a loss to someone like Ennis doesn’t mean the end of their greatness. In fact, it could fuel their comeback stories.

So, will Jaron Ennis become undisputed? The path is clear, but it’s up to the other champions to stop avoiding the challenge. Until then, Boots remains a hungry champion waiting for his defining moment.