Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’s Next Moves as Eddie Hearn Pursues Fights Against Zayas, Murtazaliev, and Crawford

Promoter Eddie Hearn says he’s considering placing collectively a combat between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas.

Zayas and Ennis: The Curiosity

Hearn states he’s spoken to High Rank about working with them for Xander’s homecoming combat later this yr in Puerto Rico. If Zayas wins that combat and Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) is victorious in his match subsequent month towards Uisma Loma, then Hearn needs to barter a Zayas-Ennis combat.

Hearn says he’d hoped to place collectively a combat between ‘Boots’ and Vergil Ortiz Jr. for early 2026, however he’s not obtained any contact from Vergil’s promoters at Golden Boy. So, he now doubts that they’re considering making that combat. A fighter that he says needs to combat Ennis is Zayas.

The Lima Downside

Once more, it’ll require that each Ennis and Zayas win their subsequent fights. As Hearn factors out, ‘Boots’ has a troublesome combat forward of him towards Lima (14-1, 10 KOs) on October 11, 2025, on the Wells Fargo Middle in Philadelphia. This will likely be Ennis’ debut at 154. Lima is ranked #9 IBF, #9 WBA, and #9 WBC.

Hearn can also be considering these two fights for Ennis:

Bakhram Murtazaliev: IBF 154-lb champion
Terence Crawford: WBA champion

The Zayas-Ennis 

“Xander Zayas, I imagine, does need the combat. We’ve had a dialog with High Rank about possibly working collectively at giving him a homecoming in Puerto Rico, after which make the ‘Boots’ combat. We’re up for that. Boots towards Xander Zayas, what a combat,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn to Chris Mannix’s channel about his curiosity in placing collectively a combat between Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and WBO junior middleweight champion Xander Zayas.

A combat between Ennis and Zayas can be an fascinating one, as it could match two glorious boxers towards one another. It could additionally enable Zayas to indicate followers that he’s not afraid to take dangerous fights, and that he’s not a fastidiously maneuvered, synthetic champion like many imagine him to be.

Hearn didn’t say who he would use from his Matchroom steady because the opponent for Zayas, 23, to make his first protection of his WBO 154-lb title towards this December in Puerto Rico.

Murtazaliev’s Path to Ennis

“Then you’ve [Bakhram] Murtazaliev speaking about combating Josh Kelly in December. We’ll [Ennis] combat him as properly. The winner of ‘Boots towards Lima goes to be the obligatory challenger for Terence Crawford. Now, we all know it might be unlikely that he’ll return to 154, however who is aware of?”

A combat between Ennis and IBF 154-lb champion Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) can be thrilling for followers to look at. Jaron would have the chance to indicate individuals what he can do towards the fighter who destroyed former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu by a third-round knockout on October 19, 2024.

The WBA Title Scenario

If the WBA strips Crawford of his title resulting from abandonment, Ennis and WBA interim champion Abass Baraou can combat for the vacant belt. Elevating Abass to WBA champion would additionally work, permitting Ennis to combat for the belt slightly than being awarded the title, as he claimed the IBF welterweight belt on November 9, 2024.

“‘Boots’ towards Crawford is one other unbelievable combat. So the one factor you don’t have to fret about, Boots, is that he’ll combat anyone. Get by Lima, which goes to be robust. This man is coming to combat. Get him finished, after which we’ll combat completely anyone,” mentioned Hearn,

Win or lose on Saturday towards Canelo Alvarez, it’s unlikely that Crawford will return to 154 for a combat with the younger ‘Boots’ Ennis at any level until Turki Alalshikh provides him a large payday.

It’s too troublesome a combat for Crawford, and what would make it more durable is that if he chooses to sit down out of the ring for one more yr after his conflict with Canelo. Returning at 39 years outdated to combat Ennis can be a nightmare for Terence. A loss to ‘Boots’ would tarnish his legacy, particularly if it’s by knockout.