At Boxing News and Views, we examine the potential matchup between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron “Boots” Ennis.
This fight draws major interest in the junior middleweight division. Ennis holds the edge in many eyes. Ortiz brings heavy power. We look at records, styles, and recent events. Facts point to a close contest. Upset chances exist for Ortiz.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. started his pro career in 2016. He stands at 5 feet 10 inches. His reach measures 70 inches. Ortiz fights orthodox. His record shows 24 wins and zero losses. He scored 22 knockouts. That gives a 91.67 percent knockout rate. Ortiz built his name on early stoppages. Most fights end before the final bell.
Ortiz faced health setbacks. He dealt with rhabdomyolysis in 2022 and 2023. That caused multiple fight cancellations. He returned strong. In 2024, Ortiz moved to 154 pounds. He won by first-round knockout against Thomas Dulorme. Later, he stopped Tim Tszyu in a major bout. That win boosted his profile. Ortiz now holds an interim title at junior middleweight. His power translates well at the higher weight.
Ortiz throws sharp jabs. He follows with heavy hooks. His body shots wear down opponents. Defense remains solid. He absorbs few clean hits. Footwork helps him close distance. Ortiz pressures foes constantly. He breaks them down over rounds. Experience against top names grows. Fights against Michael McKinson and Egidijus Kavaliauskas tested him. He passed those tests with knockouts.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis turned pro in 2016 as well. He stands at 5 feet 10 inches. His reach also hits 70 inches. Ennis switches stances. He fights southpaw or orthodox. His record stands at 35 wins and zero losses. He notched 31 knockouts. That yields an 88.57 percent knockout rate. Ennis dominates with speed and skill.
Ennis captured the IBF welterweight title in 2023. He defended it multiple times. Wins came against Karen Chukhadzhian and Roiman Villa. In 2025, he added the WBA belt. Ennis stopped Cody Crowley in a unification. He plans a move to 154 pounds. Promoters discuss that shift. Ennis holds an interim strap there now.
Ennis uses quick hands. His combinations flow smoothly. He counters with precision. Power shows in both stances. Defense relies on head movement. He slips punches easily. Footwork keeps him elusive. Ennis adapts mid-fight. He outboxes aggressive types. Fights against Sergey Lipinets and David Avanesyan showed his range. He ended both early.Recent developments fuel fight talks.
Trainers spoke out in early 2026. Robert Garcia trains Ortiz. Derek “Bozy” Ennis trains his son. Both promised the bout happens this year. They claimed terms align soon. The fight targets 154 pounds. Both hold interim belts there. Unification adds stakes.
Promoters play key roles. Oscar De La Hoya heads Golden Boy. He promotes Ortiz. Eddie Hearn runs Matchroom. He handles Ennis. De La Hoya made an offer in January 2026. He demands specific splits. Hearn reviews the terms. Talks stalled briefly. Ortiz filed a lawsuit against Golden Boy on January 16, 2026. The suit ties to delayed negotiations. Ortiz seeks better terms. Details remain private. Resolution could speed the fight.
Fans demand this clash. U.S. boxing needs big domestic bouts. Ortiz vs. Ennis fits that bill. Both undefeated. Both knockout artists. Styles clash in exciting ways. Ennis favors as the more polished boxer. Odds might list him at -200 or better. Ortiz enters as underdog. His power offers upset paths.
Head-to-head breakdown starts with power. Ortiz lands harder shots. His 22 knockouts in 24 wins prove that. Ennis stops 31 in 35. Yet Ortiz ends fights quicker on average. He averages under four rounds per bout. Ennis goes deeper sometimes. Power edge goes to Ortiz.
Speed favors Ennis. His hands move faster. He throws combos in bunches. Ortiz punches with intent. But Ennis reacts quicker. That helps in exchanges. Ennis switches stances. That confuses opponents. Ortiz faces orthodox most often. Adjustment needed there.
Defense sees Ennis ahead. He uses slick movement. Head slips avoid damage. Ortiz blocks well. But he takes shots to give them. Ennis absorbs less. That preserves him in long fights.Experience levels match. Both turned pro same year. Ennis fought more bouts — 35 to 24.
He held full titles longer. Ortiz dealt with layoffs. Yet his wins over top contenders count. Tszyu victory stands out. Ennis beat solid names too. No clear gap.
Stamina questions linger for Ortiz. Health issues caused breaks. He faded in no fights yet. Ennis shows strong conditioning. He went 12 rounds when needed. Early stoppages limit full tests for both.
Fight location matters. Las Vegas or Philadelphia discussed. Ennis hails from Philly. Home crowd boosts him. Ortiz from Texas. Neutral site evens it. Broadcast on DAZN likely. Both linked there.
Upset paths for Ortiz focus on pressure. He must close range early. Land body shots. Wear Ennis down. Ennis dislikes inside fighting. Ortiz excels there. If Ortiz hurts Ennis, follow-up ends it. Ennis recovers well. But Ortiz power tests that.
Ennis wins by outboxing. Keep distance. Use speed. Counter heavy misses. Tire Ortiz out. Late rounds favor Ennis. His adaptability shines.
We at Boxing News and Views see real upset potential. Ortiz power changes fights. One clean hook shifts momentum. Ennis skill dominates paper. But boxing holds surprises. Facts show Ortiz undefeated for reasons. His knockouts stack up.
This clash ranks high in 2026. It tops welterweight or junior middleweight lists. Winners eye bigger names. Terence Crawford or Errol Spence loom. But first, this test.
Betting lines will adjust. Public money on Ennis. Sharp bets on Ortiz value. We track updates closely.
In summary, Ortiz can upset Ennis. Power and pressure provide tools. Ennis holds advantages in speed and defense. Fight outcome hinges on execution. We await confirmation. Boxing gains from this bout.
The fight is a great one but remains to be seen if it will happen. Pending on how declining promoter Oscar De La Hoya does.
In terms of if he can make the fight happen.
Let’s see what happens him.
