Eddie Hearn Warns Vergil Ortiz Jr. Over Jaron Ennis Price

Matchroom says Ennis accepted less money and second billing before collecting multiple light middleweight titles

Eddie Hearn says Jaron Ennis accepted less money, second billing and unusual personal demands to secure a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr. Now that Ennis holds multiple light middleweight titles, Hearn insists Ortiz must accept a completely different deal.

With Ennis now a unified light middleweight champion, Hearn argues those earlier negotiations no longer apply. He rejects claims that Matchroom avoided Ortiz, saying the circumstances have changed now that Boots holds multiple world titles.

“Don’t forget, we accepted that fight and signed for that fight,” Hearn told Fighthype. “Boots had to take less money than Vergil Ortiz because they wouldn’t take it unless he did. Boots had to be the B-side. They said it has to be Ortiz against Boots. I said, ‘Why? No one’s got a world championship.’ ‘No, we’re not taking the fight unless it is.'”

Hearn said the concessions extended well beyond financial terms.

“They even asked him to cut his beard and not wear colorful gloves. All of the things that he agreed to do to have the opportunity to prove he was the best,” Hearn said.

Hearn said those earlier concessions no longer apply now that Ennis is a unified champion. Rather than refusing to fight Vergil Jr., he said Matchroom believes the circumstances are different now.

“We will fight you,” Hearn said. “But as I said yesterday, today’s price is not yesterday’s price.”

The comments come as ‘Boots’ decides his next move following his victory over Xander Zayas. Hearn said Sebastian Fundora remains Boots’ preferred opponent because it offers the opportunity to collect an additional world title. He described Ortiz as a major fight that no longer carries the same value it did before Ennis became one of the division’s leading champions.