Jaron Ennis moved one step closer to a long-awaited clash with Vergil Ortiz Jr last night. At Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Ennis, 35-0 (31 KOs), sat ringside as Ortiz, 24-0 (22 KOs), destroyed Erickson Lubin in two rounds. Ortiz’s dominant win cleared what could be the final hurdle before the two super-welterweights collide in 2026. Ennis, a former unified welterweight champion, already made waves in October when he crushed Uisma Lima in one round during his 154-pound debut. With WBO and WBA champions Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou set to unify on January 31, a showdown between Ortiz and Ennis could highlight one of boxing’s most electrifying divisions.
Verbal Sparks Fly Inside the Ring
After stopping Lubin, Ortiz Jr called Ennis into the ring. The Philadelphia contender accepted without hesitation, and tension quickly erupted between them. Ennis demanded Ortiz as his next opponent but also praised his rival’s display. “He looked great,” Ennis said. “But I’ll prove I’m the best. His team’s been talking wild, and I’ll back my words.” Ortiz refused to stay quiet and fired back. “Nobody’s talking wild, bro. Your dad started that ducking talk. It’s on video — we never got an offer.”
The Next Move Lies with Promoters
Ennis continued complimenting Ortiz, calling his performance “tremendous,” before proposing a wager on their potential fight. Ortiz declined, saying he didn’t want to take Ennis’s money. Now, the responsibility shifts to promoters Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya, along with broadcaster DAZN. They must work together to secure this blockbuster matchup and prevent it from joining the list of major fights that never materialized.
