Jaron Ennis Locks In Seven-Fight Extension With Matchroom
Two-division champion Jaron Ennis signed a massive seven-fight deal with Matchroom as he chases undisputed at 154.
Jaron "Boots" Ennis is not going anywhere. The 29-year-old two-division champion signed a massive seven-fight extension with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, locking in a partnership that began in April 2024 and has produced some of the best welterweight and light middleweight boxing on the planet.
"I'm excited for my extended partnership with Matchroom," Ennis said, adding that the deal is aligned to get him "undisputed" at 154 pounds.
Ennis currently holds the WBA and WBO light middleweight titles after stopping Xander Zayas in Brooklyn in July. His path to undisputed at 154 runs through IBF champion Josh Kelly, who signed his own Matchroom extension the same day, and WBC titleholder Sebastian Fundora.
The Matchroom deal gives Hearn an in-house path to an Ennis-Kelly unification fight, which could position Ennis with three belts and significant leverage in negotiations with the Fundora camp. Fundora's team has reportedly demanded an even split for any fight with Ennis, per Boxing News 24.
Ennis has been on a tear since joining Matchroom. He defended his welterweight title against David Avanesyan in Philadelphia, beat Karen Chukhadzhian, won a welterweight unification bout against Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City, then moved up to 154 and stopped Uisma Lima inside one round before the Zayas victory.
The announcement comes as the 154-pound division heats up. Kelly and Ennis are now stablemates with every reason to fight each other, and Fundora looms as the final obstacle to an undisputed run. No date or opponent for Ennis's next fight has been announced.
Seven fights is a statement. Ennis could have tested free agency. He could have shopped around. Instead he bet on Hearn, and Hearn bet on him. The play here is obvious: fight Kelly in-house, stack three belts, then go after Fundora with all the leverage.
Fundora's camp wanting a 50-50 split tells you everything. They know Boots is the most dangerous fighter at 154. If Ennis runs through Kelly first, good luck asking for even money when the other guy has three belts. This deal was as much strategy as it was loyalty.
I think Ennis becomes undisputed at 154 by the end of 2027. The talent is there, the platform is there, and now the contractual runway is there too.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
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