Eddie Hearn wants to sign Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to his Matchroom promotional stable. That would be a significant signing if Hearn could add the 26-year-old Boots to his stable, as he would replace the fading superstar former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who is on his last legs.
Hearn believes he can work his magic to transform Ennis into the biggest name in the sport in perhaps less than a year. He says he is speaking with his management to sign the Philadephia native.
Can Hearn transform Boots into his next masterpiece?
With a twinkle in his eyes, the British promoter believes fledgling talent Boots needs the Hearn touch to transform him into a star, and yes, he would ideal replacement for the fading Joshua to snatch the baton to become the next mega-money guy in the Matchroom stable to carry the company for the next ten years.
The British promoter Hearn believes all he needs is twelve months to turn Ennis into a superstar, although he doesn’t say who he would match him against to make that happen.
If things go as Hearn plans, the newly elevated IBF welterweight champion ‘Boots’ Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) will be a superstar, provided he inks with him.
Hearn’s ready to make a star out of Boots
“Jaron Ennis is another guy we’re talking to. I think he could be pound-for-pound #1. He should be an American superstar. I’d like to sign him,” said Eddie Hearn to Ariel Helwani’s YouTube channel when asked if he’s been talking to IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. “Yeah,” said Hearn on whether Boots is a promotional ‘free agent.’
The Philadelphia native Ennis is viewed as the next star in the 147-lb division, ready to grab the reigns from the departing unified champion Terence Crawford, who is moving up in weight after his rematch with Errol Spence, and he could soon face Canelo Alvarez before hanging up his gloves.
“He’s an incredible fighter, but it’s getting him to understand that we’ve got a job to do with Jaron Ennis. I need twelve months to build this kid into a superstar. I need to take him home to Philadelphia, start filling out stadiums there,” Hearn continued.
“When you’ve got a fighter as good as that, it’s so easy to put a plan together because you know he can beat everybody. When I’m selling a product that is elite and second to none, no one can do the job that I can,” Hearn boasted.
“You’ve got to have someone with that megaphone, that motormouth, that machinery within their promotional and digital tools to push you 24/7. Who is pushing Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis? Who is getting on the microphone? I’m pushing his profile just by talking about him. He’s not even signed with us,” said Hearn.
Eddie struck out in the past when he attempted to turn Demetrius Andrade into a superstar, and he would have to do a better job with Boots. Will Hearn underdeliver again?
If Hearn is planning on signing Boots Ennis to pit him exclusively against British fighters, as he did with Andrade, he will fail him. You can’t turn an American talent like Boots into a superstar by matching him against domestic-level opposition like Conor Benn, who Hearn likely pit him against.
“I think he’s brilliant, but you need that megaphone to tell the world that this kid is special, and that’s so easy to do with people like Boots Ennis,: said Hearn. “He’s American, he looks great, he’s got style, he’s got power, he’s got speed, and I know you can put him in fights at 147 where you say, ‘Just go in and do your thing.’ Nothing is ever perfect, but that’s my thoughts.
Ennis to fill the Crawford void
“There are so many great fighters in America, and they’ll walk down their own street, and people wouldn’t know who they are. Look at the job they [Top Rank] did on Bud Crawford. What is he? He’s 35 or 36, and he’s only now starting to build his profile since the Spence fight.”
Crawford is a special case. Top Rank couldn’t get the fights they wanted for him because he had too many things working against him.
He was a counter-puncher, switch-hitter, mover, and defensive guy with a low social media presence. With all the best welterweights being signed with PBC during the last decade, Crawford was locked out. Even if Crawford had been signed with Hearn, he’d have been avoided in the same way by the PBC-signed fighters.
“He’s the pound-for-pound #1 in our sport, a guy with personality, a guy with charisma, a guy with incredible backstory from Ohama, and a guy that has been undisputed at 140 and 147,” said Hearn about Crawford.
“Walk him up and down in the major cities [in the U.S.], and they won’t know who he is. You’ve got to stay active; you’ve got to. It’s just frustrating sometimes, this sport. It really winds me up, but I love it,’ said Hearn.
