Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. falls apart, Ortiz Jr. targets new opponent for loaded 2025 card

The Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. matchup the boxing world has long clamored for has fallen apart.

“Boots” and Ortiz were once considered the future of the welterweight division, but when Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) moved up to super welterweight, a potential fight seemed further away as IBF welterweight champion Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) was focusing his efforts on unifying at 147 pounds. Ennis vs. Ortiz Jr. then rematerialized as a target for Turki Alalshikh’s monster Feb. 22 “Riyadh Season” show, however the bout has once again fallen apart over conflict surrounding the weight limit.

Ennis’ side claims to have been originally offered the Ortiz fight at welterweight, which they accepted. However, when Ortiz’s promoter, Golden Boy, flagged the 147-pound weight limit as an issue, Ennis’ side was unwilling to immediately agree to move up to super welterweight.

Ennis’ primary goal is to unify at welterweight, and although that goal has proven increasingly difficult, he remains concentrated on cementing himself as the best welterweight in the world. So with the brisk pace at which Riyadh Season bouts are negotiated, Ennis declined to commit to a 154-pound matchup on a tight deadline.

Welterweight was a non-starter for WBC interim super welterweight champion Ortiz, who was forced to move up to 154 pounds after being hospitalized during his weight cut for a 147-pound title matchup with Eimantas Stanionis in 2023. Ortiz’s promoters are now seeking an alternative opponent for his slot on the Feb. 22 card.

Unified champion Sebastian Fundora was approached to defend his belts against Ortiz on the card, per veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael, but the idea was immediately refused. Fundora seems headed toward a clash with the one-time welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

Puerto Rican contender Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) claimed over the weekend on social media to have accepted a proposal to box Ortiz on the Feb. 22 event. Zayas was last in action in September when he won a shutout decision over Damian Sosa on the Sandy Ryan vs. Mikaela Mayer undercard.

Elsewhere on the Feb. 22 card, Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield publicly confirmed they have signed contracts to fight each other, after WBC lightweight champion Stevenson was left without an opponent due to his mandatory challenger, William Zepeda, being unavailable for the date due to injury. Schofield’s promoter, Golden Boy, initially rejected the bout but was convinced by Schofield and his father to proceed with the matchup and to give “Kid Austin” a huge opportunity and payday.