Vergil Ortiz Jnr believes a fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis has to happen.
The pairing makes more sense than ever now that both are once again fighting in the same weight division. Ortiz, 23-0 (21 KOs) holds the WBC interim title at junior middleweight, where Philadelphia’s Ennis, 34-0 (30 KO) will now campaign beginning with his next fight.
Both are figuring out their next respective moves for planned ring appearances this fall.
Ortiz has been out since his unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win was his fourth in a span of 13 months, all at 154lbs. In consecutive fights, he took on heavy hitters Serhii Bohachuk and Madrimov.
Now, he has his eyes set on bigger fights, including Ennis and IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs).
“I think the Boots fight is the fight that has to happen,” Ortiz told BoxingScene. “The Bakhram fight, I am not sure when it will happen, but hopefully pretty soon. Those are great fights the fans want to see, and so do I.”
Ennis last fought in April, when he stopped unbeaten Eimantas Stanionis in the sixth round to unify the WBA and IBF 147lbs titles.
Murtazaliev hasn’t fought since his October knockout win over Tim Tszyu to defend the title he won earlier last year.
“I think those are the fights that have to happen,” Ortiz said. “I want both of those fights. I have told Turki [Alalshikh] I want both of those fights.”
Ortiz, the 27-year-old from Grand Prairie, Texas, was prompted to ask why a fight with the undefeated Ennis, 34-0 (30 KOs), should happen.
“It has just been cooking too long,” Ortiz said of the Ennis fight.
Ennis, 28, has had a rise up the ranks mirroring that of Ortiz. The two have been heavily talked about as two upcoming stars.
When Ortiz speaks of the bout, an enthusiasm is clear in taking on the best.
“In all honesty, I am trying to get the hardest fights out there,” Ortiz said. “I love being in those hard fights where I don’t know if I am going to win or not.”
Ortiz finds inspiration in fighters who did their talking in the ring, referencing Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler as fighters whose actions spoke louder than their words.
“Just talk in the ring and the right fights will happen,” Ortiz said. “Other fighters have done it in the past, Canelo [Alvarez] wasn’t out there talking a lot of mess. He was just putting in the work in the gym and his fights.”
“I don’t want to be known for anything else, but what I did in the ring,” Ortiz said.
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
