It’s a somber time for Rick Mirigian, manager of Vergil Ortiz Jnr, as he grapples with the reality that the highly anticipated fight between Ortiz and Jaron "Boots" Ennis will not take place.
The bout, once speculated to be headed for the February 22 Riyadh Season event, is officially off the table, leaving Mirigian disappointed and critical of the circumstances.
The fight’s unraveling began after Ennis’ recent fight – a 12-round unanimous decision win over Karen Chukhadzhian in a rematch in November. Ennis’ postfight comments raised eyebrows, as he openly hinted at moving up to junior middleweight. His father and trainer, Derek “Bozy” Ennis, and promoter, Eddie Hearn, have echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that a move to 154lbs could happen.
For Mirigian, those statements were pivotal.
“Of course, the weight was not an issue,” Mirigian told BoxingScene. “Reporters need to simply watch his video and hold him accountable after the last fight, where he says himself he wants and needs to fight at 154. Then his promoter says the same thing, and then his trainer not only says it but claims we turned down an offer – an offer that was for 154, both verbally and in writing. Just go back and listen to them all!”
Mirigian believed the fight was within reach. “Yes, I thought the fight would happen,” Mirigian said. “I thought Boots was one of those special generational talents that no one would fight. I didn’t think he’d back out and run from what he, his trainer and his promoter all said they wanted.”
That comment was in response to Bozy Ennis’ comments when asked by Boxing News about a potential fight with Ortiz, in which he said the following: “They already asked about that [Ortiz fight], and they said they turned it down.” The elder Ennis furthered that his son would fight Ortiz in a heartbeat, and also said in the same interview that Ennis had been trying to fight Ortiz.
The disappointment cut deeper as Mirigian reflected on the events. “The worst part of this all,” he said, “is that a fighter, his trainer and his promoter publicly called out Vergil multiple times, specified the weight they wanted on record, and claimed to have made us an offer – which was a lie. When presented with the biggest checkbook in the sport, a career-high payday and everything they asked for, they all ran away.
“Meanwhile, the only thing Ortiz ever said was ‘yes,’” Mirigian added. “He agreed to terms immediately, without a single negative word or rude comment from anyone on our team. The great ones – past, present and future – would never act this way. Without question, in the public eye, Boots went from being a great fighter to merely a good one.”
The fallout from the missed opportunity extends beyond today, according to Mirigian.
“It’s a shame boxing lost what could have been a historic fight,” he said. “At the end of the day, be careful what you wish for. He won’t get a second chance with Vergil in the future, under any circumstances, and I think that’s what he wanted. He seems fine with that.”
The biggest confusion around the incident: What was the hold-up? It appears that it was a weight class, as Ennis is the IBF welterweight titleholder, who had hinted at moving up but may have been reluctant to give up his title. Ortiz, a former welterweight, is no longer able to make that weight class.
Ennis took to social media to address the situation, posting on X: “I seen the rumors on social media just like yall did as far as the fight with me and Vergil. I was unaware that alleged negotiations was being made on my end. From here on out, if it didn’t come from ME and ME only, don’t believe it. I will address if I’m staying at 47 or moving up to 54 at a later date and time.”
The disconnect between the two camps – shrouded in private negotiations and public misunderstandings – appears to have soured any chance of a future matchup, at least for now.
“Vergil will not entertain this circus ever again,” Mirigian said. “Boots won’t get another chance to fight Vergil, and if you ask me, he’ll be fine with that. That’s what he wanted all along, and I think the public will never look at him the same again.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.