Promoter Eddie Hearn says welterweight hotshot Jaron “Boots” Ennis could use a carny barker promulgating his talent to the masses.
And the head of Matchroom Boxing believes he is the right man for that role.
In an interview with The MMA Hour, Hearn said he has had discussions with the 147-pound titlist’s representatives about a promotional contract.
“Just to his father, his management team,” Hearn said when asked if he had a conversation with Ennis. “I’d like to sign him.”
Asked if Ennis was a free agent, Hearn responded, “Yeah.”
Philadelphia’s Ennis is regarded as one of the top talents in boxing. He became the IBF welterweight champion after Terence Crawford was stripped of his title in November because of the latter’s inability to comply with a mandatory title defense; Crawford is expected to enter into a rematch with Errol Spence Jr. sometime next year.
Ennis’ future is not entirely clear because his longtime broadcaster, Showtime, is getting out of the boxing business at the end of the year. Ennis, whose promoter of record is Cameron Dunkin, was unusual in that he was given significant broadcasting slots on Showtime even though he was not formally aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, the managerial outfit that backs some 150 fighters and acted as Showtime’s exclusive content partner. PBC announced last week that it will enter into a new rights deal with Amazon Prime Video next year.
Bozey Ennis, the father of Jaron Ennis, was not forthcoming about Ennis’ next steps, but he indicated to BoxingScene.com that his son would go wherever outgoing Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza took them. Espinoza, for his part, has hinted at the possibility that he could remain involved in boxing.
Hearn said that Ennis could stand to be better promoted and that if Ennis was signed to him, he would ensure that the Philadelphian gained maximum exposure.
“He’s an incredible fighter but again, it’s getting him to understand, we’ve got a job to do with Jaron Ennis,” Hearn said. “I need 12 months to build this kid into a superstar. I need to take him home to Philadelphia and start selling out stadiums there. But 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 added.
“You’ve got to have that someone with that megaphone, that motor mouth, that machinery within their promotional and digital arsenal to push you 24/7,” Hearn continued. “Who is pushing the profile of Boots Ennis? Who is getting on the microphone? I mean I’m pushing his profile just by talking about him.
“He’s not even signed with us [but I’m talking about him] because I think he’s brilliant. …You need someone telling the world that this kid is special and that’s so easy to do with someone like Boots Ennis. 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 in 147, you just go, do your thing, so yeah.”
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.