The welterweight division, while arguably lacking in depth, still boasts quality champions, with Jaron “Boots” Ennis holding the WBA and IBF titles, Brian Norman Jr as the WBO champion, and Mario Barrios reigning as the WBC titlist. A rumoured unification bout between Ennis, who also holds The Ring belt, and Brian Norman Jr had been mooted for several months, but the very public negotiations ultimately broke down. Norman Jr spoke to Fight Hub TV to give his version of why the fight never materialised.
Brian Norman Jr Addresses Failed ‘Boots’ Ennis Negotiations
Norman Jr Points Finger Over Negotiations
When asked why the Boots Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) fight has not happened yet: “No, it was definitely the funds. It was definitely that money. He (Eddie Hearn) was just trying to downplay us. Like, the initial offer was 705k.
“And I believe Stanionis’ first offer was 1.5 (million) or something like that,” said Norman.
“(Mario) Barrios was even higher than that, I believe. So it’s just like ‘How you just going to downplay me‘, and I’m just all the way down here for it. So, obviously, you’re not even trying to make the fight happen to begin with.”
Norman Jr Challenges Boots Ennis’ Portrayal
“So you tell me, is that good business right there? And then he turned around, and nobody else is doing this negotiations out here to the public. He out here, you know, doing this, that and the third, while we was in the background chilling, so you telling me is that good business?
“Like I said, he promoting. So, he’s doing a good job. He (Hearn) making Boots seem like this, seem like that. But, I’m down to show y’all otherwise,” said Norman Jr (27-0, 21 KOs).
It seems there is no love lost between Team Ennis and Team Norman, with the very public negotiations leaving a sour taste for some. The failure to make the unification bout led “Boots” to face Karen Chukhadzhian again, while Norman stopped Derrieck Cuevas in a routine defence on the undercard of Mikaela Mayer vs Sandy Ryan. Ennis has since collected the WBA strap with his impressive stoppage win against Eimantas Stanionis.
Ennis vs Norman Jr would be an eventful build-up and should provide plenty of intrigue on fight night.
