A highly anticipated boxing match between Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. has been a topic of speculation for quite some time now, with many fans eagerly awaiting the showdown. However, a recent development has thrown a wrench into these plans.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. is set to defend his WBC interim super-welterweight title against Erickson Lubin on Saturday night, an event that Ennis and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, are expected to attend. It was widely assumed that an announcement regarding the Ennis-Ortiz fight would follow shortly after, especially if Ortiz successfully navigated his way through Lubin.
But here's where it gets controversial... Ortiz's trainer, Robert Garcia, has dropped a bombshell, claiming that Ennis has other plans for his next fight, despite all the talk. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Garcia expressed his belief that Ennis is not actually ready for the Ortiz fight and has already lined up an alternative opponent.
Garcia stated, "That's all bullshit. Boots [Ennis] is not going to fight Vergil next. They are just trying to create a buzz, get the media interested, and promote their fighter. But the truth is, they already have a different fight lined up."
He continued, "Why didn't they invite us to their last fight? It would have been a great opportunity to promote the Ennis-Ortiz fight. Instead, they are just showing up at our event, but it's all part of their strategy."
So, it seems like the highly anticipated Ennis-Ortiz fight might not be happening anytime soon. But this is the part most people miss: it's all about the business of boxing and the art of promotion.
The Ortiz-Lubin fight will still go ahead on Saturday, with an exciting undercard featuring Darius Fulghum, Robin Sirwan Safar, and Joshua Edwards.
What do you think about these unexpected developments? Is Garcia right about Ennis' plans, or is this just a clever strategy to create more hype? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!