Jaron Ennis Vacates Welterweight Titles Moves To Super Welterweight

Jaron "Boots" Ennis, the undefeated unified welterweight champion holding the IBF and WBA titles, has officially announced his move up to the super welterweight (154 lbs) division, vacating his welterweight belts. This decision comes after struggles with making the 147-pound limit and failed negotiations for unification bouts against notable welterweights like Brian Norman Jr. Ennis aims to capitalize on his natural size and athleticism in the talent-rich junior middleweight class, which currently features champions such as Terence Crawford (WBA, interim WBO), Sebastian Fundora (WBC), and Bakhram Murtazaliev (IBF). With Crawford moving up to super-middleweight to face Canelo Alvarez and likely vacating his belts, Ennis is positioned to become a two-weight world champion and target the vacant or held titles at 154 lbs. Ennis' promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated plans for a tune-up fight followed by a potential high-profile bout against Vergil Ortiz Jr in 2026, although fans remain cautious given Ennis' past avoidance of certain welterweight contenders. Overall, Ennis's move is seen as a natural progression to preserve his health and enhance his performance as he continues his dominant undefeated run.