Jaron Ennis: Too scared to climb?

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis posted on social media that 2025 will be a “tremendous” year for him. The 27-year-old is aiming for the welterweight titles to become the undisputed champion.

Some believe Boots lacks the ambition, courage and sense of adventure to move up to 154 and 160 for bigger money fights.

(Photo credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) is still hoping to unify the 147 welterweight division, having turned down an opportunity to move up to 154 for bigger challenges against interim WBC junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.

147: A Dead End?

Some boxing fans believe Boots lacks the courage and ambition to do more with his career. He would rather play it safe, working tirelessly to achieve his goal of becoming the undisputed champion in a dead welterweight division.

It must be frustrating for the developer Eddie Hearn because there are so many big names at 154, 160 and 168, and he could match Boots Ennis with him if he was willing to take risks with his career. Staying at 147 is a dead end for Boots, 27, and Hearn more than anyone has been able to know that.

Hearn could suit Boots in 2025 by setting him up with a welterweight unification fight, but no more.

Unless Hearn is willing to pay a king’s ransom to the other 147-pound champions, they won’t fight Ennis because his chances of winning are slim. They better buckle up and milking them.

Boots’ recent dismal performance against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9 may have destroyed what little ambition was still left in her body, leaving the risk-averse fighter we’re seeing now.

Hearn’s wasted efforts

Karen schooled Ennis for 12 rounds, pitching in the box, slugging and outhitting him in front of his fans. Afterwards, I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to hear what Hearn had to say privately about his thoughts on Boot’s performance. I highly doubt Hearn will re-sign Boots when his contract with Matchroom is up because he’s not going anywhere.

There are so many big fights that Hearn could match Boots with if he was brave and wanted to challenge himself by moving up to 154, 160, 168 and 175. He has the frame to compete in all of those divisions, but he won’t. this Something is holding him back.

I’d say the best Hearn can hope for with Ennis in 2025 is a miserable unification fight against WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis. That’s all. Throw it back with Karen for a trilogy after this match.

2024 was a good year, but 2025 will be a tremendous and blessed year for me! 2025 I’m in this mode! Can’t wait 👑🫶🏾 Keep up the same energy!

— Boots (@JaronEnnis) January 2, 2025