The longtime trainer says Ennis would beat the two leading contenders at junior middleweight and expects both fights to end inside the distance
Coach Stephen Edwards believes Jaron “Boots” Ennis would stop both Sebastian Fundora and Vergil Ortiz Jr. if the fights are made. The veteran trainer says each presents a different challenge, but neither has the tools to survive against the newly unified champion.
“I think that they both present problems for Boots, but different types of problems,” Edwards said to Sean Zittel. “I picked Boots to beat both guys. I think he knocks both off. I think he stops both.”
Edwards expects the Fundora matchup to become an immediate firefight rather than a tactical battle. The 6’6″ Fundora’s height would force Ennis to adjust his attack, particularly with the jab.
“I think Boots and Fundora is an absolute Hagler-Hearns type of shootout,” Edwards said. “I think that would be the kind of fight that will end within four rounds, but it’ll be a great fight because both guys are trying to end it very early.”
Ortiz, however, presents a different problem.
Edwards praised the former interim titleholder’s compact offense, disciplined high guard and explosive combinations, saying those traits could punish Ennis whenever he becomes too relaxed in exchanges.
“Virgil Ortiz keeps his hands up,” Edwards explained. “If Boots is getting a little lazy, getting a little carefree, I think Virgil can get off a little bit at the point of attack.”
Edwards still favors Ennis, provided he sharpens up defensively during prolonged exchanges.
“I would pick Boots to beat Virgil, but I think he would have to be a little bit more careful with the exchanges,” Edwards said.
The trainer believes Ennis’ jab would become a major weapon against Ortiz, allowing the unbeaten champion to dictate range before eventually breaking the Texas puncher down. Against Fundora, Edwards sees a much more violent contest, with neither man likely to spend long boxing from the outside.
Ennis is sitting pretty at the top of a loaded 154-pound division after demolishing Zayas. Fundora remains one of the sport’s most dangerous champions, while Ortiz has bulldozed his way through Erickson Lubin, Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk.
Edwards doesn’t expect either man to be enough. He sees Ennis surviving two of the toughest tests available at 154 pounds before stopping both of them inside the distance.
