Everything was good – until it wasn't.
Earlier this week BoxingScene reported that super welterweight knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jnr and IBF welterweight titleholder Jaron Ennis had reached a verbal agreement to fight each other on February 22 in Saudi Arabia.
The scrap was supposed to take place at 154 pounds, the division where Ortiz, 22-0 (21 KOs) has competed in over his last three fights and the weight class Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) has been eyeing since capturing the first major crown of his career.
But by Saturday morning, Ortiz’s manager Rick Mirigian stated Boots pumped the brakes on the fight and changed his mind, reportedly asking to fight at 147 pounds instead.
Ortiz took to social media to share his stance at the slugfest slipping through the cracks.
“I’ve always said I’ll fight anybody and I remained true to my word,” said Ortiz. “Every single person that I have been offered to fight I said yes. It takes two to tango in boxing, so if I’m not in that ring fighting someone, know it’s not my fault! Time for some of you guys to stop saying I’m ducking and don’t want to fight because that’s not the case this time and never was.”
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, commented on Ortiz’s post and said “You will have a great fight.”
Xander Zayas, 20-0 (12 KOs), then indicated that he had accepted an offer to fight Ortiz.
Ennis tried to clear the air around the situation by releasing a statement Saturday on social media. “I saw the rumors on social media just like y'all did as far as the fight with me and Vergil. I was unaware that alleged negotiations were being made on my end. From here on out if it didn't come from me and me only, don't believe it. And I will address if I'm staying at 147 or moving up to 154 at a later date and time.”
With Ennis out of the picture, reports suggested Sebastian Fundora could step in to face Ortiz before Zayas became the frontrunner.
Ortiz-Ennis was supposed to be featured on a card headlined by the rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Ortiz last fought in August and survived two knockdowns against Serhii Bohachuk to score a majority decision win in a fight-of-the-year contender.
Ennis scored a unanimous decision victory in a rematch against mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian in November.
Fundora last fought in March and upset Tim Tzsyu on short notice via split decision while Zayas is yet to compete in a scheduled 12-rounder.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on , , and , through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via .