Frank Martin Doubts Boots Can Withstand Vergil Ortiz’s Power

Frank Martin questions whether Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will be able to take the heavy shots from WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. Martin notes that Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) has shown that he can take punches when hit clean, but he’s unsure if he can take Vergil Jr’s power.

The two fighters are expected to fight in 2026 in a mega-bout that will put the winner in a position to challenge WBC 154-lb champion Sebastian Fundora for his title.

“Boots can fight his a** off. The thing is, though, actually being able to fight another fighter that can punch and who is going to hit you with those big shots is he going to be able to take those against a big puncher like Vergil Ortiz Jr.?” said Frank Martin to Fight Hub TV, questioning whether Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis can take the power of Vergil Ortiz Jr.

It’s still unclear if the Ortiz vs. Ennis fight will happen in 2026. Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya sounded like he wasn’t eager to make the fight for Vergil Jr. next after his second-round knockout win over Erickson Lubin on November 8th, says he wants “terms favorable” for Ortiz Jr. (24-0, 22 KOs). Fans took that as classic duck talk.

“Their styles is a clash. That’s a crazy clash-style fight. We’ve seen ‘Boots’ get hit with real big shots. I don’t feel like he’s been hit clean with a puncher like Vergil. His defense might be immaculate on the night he fights Vergil. It might not be. We don’t know,” said Martin, about Ennis’ defense might not be on point against Ortiz Jr.