Jaron 'Boots' Ennis set to relinquish world titles, move up to super welterweight
Jaron "Boots" Ennis' days at welterweight are over.
The WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine 147-pound champion will move up to the super welterweight division for his next fight, Ennis' promoter, Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn, revealed to multiple outlets on Thursday afternoon.
Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) was upgraded to IBF welterweight champion following Terence Crawford's undisputed title victory over Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023, and Crawford's subsequent jump to 154 pounds. Boots made two defenses of the IBF belt in 2024 before stopping Eimantas Stanionis in their welterweight title unification matchup in April in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Ennis's performance against Stanionis, a formidable champion in his own right, was nothing short of special. Ennis broke down and knocked out the consensus No. 2 in the division inside six rounds and reiterated what many have long believed — that Ennis' ceiling in the sport is quite high.
Although the goal for Ennis was to become undisputed champion at welterweight, it proved too difficult to achieve, with mandatory challengers being ordered and difficulty making fights with the other champions, namely Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios.
Now, Ennis will continue at super welterweight and likely vacate the IBF and WBA welterweight belts in the coming months.
Irish welterweights Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker have been ordered to rematch in a final eliminator for the IBF 147-pound belt following the controversial ending to their first fight in March.
Donovan was disqualified for flooring Crocker with a right hook after the bell sounded to signal the end of Round 8. The Limerick man, who was well on his way to victory when he was disqualified by referee Marcus McDonnell, blamed the raucous atmosphere from the soldout SSE Arena in Belfast for his failure to hear the bell.
It is now likely that the Donovan vs. Crocker rematch will be contested for the vacant IBF welterweight title following Ennis' decision. Although a date hasn't been set for the rematch, Uncrowned understands the fight will take place in late September or early October in Belfast, either at Windsor Park or back at the SSE Arena.
Shakhram Giyasov is the No. 1 contender for the WBA welterweight title, while Rolando "Rolly" Romero won the WBA "Regular" belt with an upset victory over Ryan Garcia in May. Romero is expected to be upgraded to full champion and ordered to defend against Giyasov.
As for Ennis, because he was the WBA "super" champion at welterweight, he has the opportunity to be designated as the mandatory challenger for the WBA at super welterweight.
The WBA super welterweight title is currently held by Crawford, while Yoenis Tellez owns the interim title. It is highly unlikely Crawford, who challenges Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for the undisputed super middleweight crown in September, ever returns to 154 pounds, and so Ennis could find himself in prime position to face Tellez for the WBA super welterweight title.
Hearn also said Ennis would be open to facing Vergil Ortiz Jr. at some point after his 154-pound debut, which will be in August or September.
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