Eddie Hearn Outlines Jaron Ennis Backup Plan at 154

Zayas and Kelly in frame if Vergil Ortiz remains tied up in court

Eddie Hearn has prepared a contingency plan at 154 pounds if the proposed Jaron Ennis vs Vergil Ortiz fight cannot move forward. Xander Zayas and IBF champion Josh Kelly headline the backup route.

Ennis holds WBA secondary status after re-signing with Matchroom. Zayas unified the WBA and WBO titles earlier this year. Kelly captured the IBF belt in Newcastle. The current promotional setup creates two viable championship-level fights without requiring a court decision before action can resume in the division.

Vergil Ortiz’s contractual dispute with Golden Boy remains before a Nevada court following arguments over a temporary restraining order tied to his promotional agreement. Golden Boy has sought arbitration, while Ortiz’s representatives have moved to dismiss the case. No ruling has been issued.

“If we can’t get Vergil Ortiz, the primary target is Xander Zayas,” Hearn said. “And if we can’t get him, we have Josh Kelly. I’d like to do Boots against Vergil Ortiz, Xander against Josh Kelly, and then the winners fight each other.”

The originally discussed spring target for Ortiz–Ennis has grown less certain, and extended inactivity would leave Ennis in an awkward position near the top of the weight class. A move toward Zayas or Kelly would preserve title relevance and prevent the division from heading toward unresolved contractual issues.

“It creates a really strong tree of fights at 154,” Hearn said. “So whether it’s Vergil or not, you’ve got big fights, and you can keep everybody moving.”

Under the proposed structure, Ennis would face either Zayas or the winner of Zayas–Kelly if Ortiz is unavailable. The plan keeps the belt holders engaged and limits further stagnation at the top of the weight class, where extended uncertainty has already slowed meaningful movement in recent months.