IBF welterweight world champion Jaron Ennis and the team over at Matchroom Boxing has a decision to make quickly.
While speaking with DAZN's Chris Mannix on Saturday night, Eddie Hearn revealed that fight negotiations have dissolved with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr.
And that fallout has prompted Ennis to make a decision — either stay put at 147 pounds or move up to super welterweight.
"We made [Norman] a life-changing opportunity, over nearly 18 times higher than the biggest purse of his career, the chance to be great, to take on the best welterweight in the world and they never really wanted it in my opinion," Hearn began explaining.
"So we have to park Brian Norman to the side," he continued. "We made offers to [Mario] Barrios, to [Eimantas] Stanionis. We know [Ennis] got the mandatory in two days with the IBF. It's not really a fight we anticipated or really want but now we got to make a decision."
Added Hearn: "Do we maintain our position as world champion or do we make that move to 154 pounds?"
The Matchroom Boxing promoter is still hoping for the former but is prepared for Ennis to move up in weight if need be.
"I hope that people like Barrios and Norman and Stanionis actually do want to unify," he said of the other welterweight titleholders. "I'd like 'Boots' to stay at 147 and clear up the division but the next 48 hours will be pivotal as we make that decision as to what to do next for Jaron Ennis."
"Boots" improved to 32-0 with 29 knockouts after defeating David Avanesyan in July.
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