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4 hours ago
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The temperature of the already-hot super welterweight division just rose a little further with confirmation that Jaron Ennis would be moving up to 154-pounds.
“Boots” is considered a pound-for-pound star in waiting, having compiled a 34-0 record, complete with 30 knockout victories.
The Philadelphia native collected the IBF, WBA and The Ring titles at welterweight but was unsuccessful in getting a fight with Terence Crawford prior to the latter’s own move to super welterweight.
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Ennis took to social media to confirm his plans.
“It’s time! 154,” he wrote.
“Y’all said this where the smoke at right? Let’s have it then!”
With that mind, let’s take a look at the state of play in one arguably boxing’s hottest division.
Current super welterweight world champions:
IBF: Bakhram Murtazaliev
WBA: Terence Crawford
WBC: Sebastian Fundora
WBO: Vacant
The Ring super welterweight rankings:
C: Vacant
- Terence Crawford
- Vergil Ortiz
- Israil Madrimov
- Bakhram Murtazaliev
- Sebastian Fundora
- Serhii Bohachuk
- Tim Tszyu
- Erickson Lubin
- Jesus Ramos
- Jorge Garcis Perez
Additionally, former undisputed champion Jermell Charlo remains a wildcard.
Despite not having fought since September 2023, the 35-year-old revealed his plans to return to the ring earlier this year.
Similarly, Errol Spence is coming up on two years out of action but his name continues to pop up for potential fights at super welterweight.
Both men retain the appeal to step straight into big bouts.
Upcoming super welterweight bouts:
The titleholders and rankings listed above could look very different in a matter of months.
First up, Fundora and Tszyu meet in a rematch of their bloody showdown.
Going down in Las Vegas on July 19, the Australian is hoping to exact revenge for his split-decision loss to the towering southpaw, who now holds the WBC belt.
One week later in New York City, Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia Perez face off for the WBO title, recently vacated by Fundora.
And finally, Crawford is due to fight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez for all the gold at super middleweight in September, placing his future at 154-lbs in serious doubt.
If Crawford vacates or is stripped of his WBA title, Yoennis Tellez will likely be elevated to full champion.
Lastly, as reported by Lance Pugmire, Murtazaliev is in talks to defend his IBF strap against Englishman Josh Kelly on the Crawford-Canelo undercard.
Who will Jaron Ennis fight in his super welterweight debut?
The 27-year-old should be a big enough name to step into a fight with one of the top guys at the weight.
He has previously been in talks for a clash with the all-action Ortiz before a "miscommunication" over the weight saw the fight fall over.
"They turned down record pay, so they are going to have to wait in line like everyone else does, and like we have ourselves," father and trainer Vergil Ortiz Snr told The Ring following the news of Ennis' move.
In any case, hand surgery means the undefeated Texan knockout artist is reportedly sidelined until late September, although his next opponent is yet to be confirmed, leaving the door open for a long-awaited Ennis clash.
Ennis could also wait for the winner of Fundora-Tszyu II, although, given he’s signed with Matchroom and that pair are affiliated with PBC, Turki Alalshikh and his sacks full of cash may be required to get that one over the line.
The best in-house option for Ennis would be a showdown with Madrimov, giving him the chance to compare his performance versus the Uzbek with those of Crawford and Ortiz.
Unfortunately, Madrimov, who has a co-promotional agreement with Matchroom, is out of action following surgery on his leg.
If Ennis is happy to sit out and wait for a title shot, a meeting with the Zayas vs. Garcia Perez victor would give him a chance at the WBO strap.
One fight which would certainly stamp his credentials at super welterweight would be with Serhii Bohachuk.
The Ukrainian boxer-puncher has recorded two straight wins, most recently over Mykal Fox last month, since his only defeat, a razor-thin majority-decision loss to Ortiz in which he twice put the unbeaten American down.
A win over Bohachuk would be the perfect launching pad into a fight with one of division's top dogs.
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