IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis and Teofimo Lopez might be facing off against each other in early 2025 after Top Rank chairman Bob Arum revealed talks had begun to arrange a fight. The news comes after a much-criticized “withdrawal” Ennis perceivedly made of a fight against WBC interim super welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr.
According to BoxingScene, discussions have already started between a Top Rank attorney and Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn, but actual negotiations have not yet begun. Bob Arum further indicated that the magnitude of the fight would require both promotions to promote the fight in a joint venture between them―setting up the likelihood of Top Rank’s broadcaster, ESPN, working together with Matchroom’s DAZN to stage a pay-per-view (PPV) bout.
Like IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis (33-0, 29 KO’s), Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KO’s) is currently in possesion of a world title; the WBO super lightweight (140 lbs) belt which he first won in 2023 after defeating Scottish former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-2, 13 KO’s).
The fight would be considered a blockbuster fight with both Ennis and Lopez considered top American fighters approaching or at the prime of their fighting years―with both fighters currently aged 27. This further could entail the Ennis-Lopez fight to be considered one of the biggest American domestic bouts of 2025.
With Teofimo Lopez expected to fight in March of next year, it remains a possibility for the Ennis-Lopez fight to be staged in that period. The bout would require Lopez to move up a weight class to fight for Ennis’ IBF title, setting up the possibility for the WBO champion to permanently locate to the 147 lbs division―after roughly two years of fighting at super lightweight.
Ennis’ situation with super welterweight (154 lbs) will put pressure on him to take a potential fight against Lopez. Coming off the back of a competitive bout against Ukrainian welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KO’s), Jaron Ennis had been linked with fighting WBC interim 154 lbs champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. (22-0, 21 KO’s) but faced steep criticism after the potential fight collapsed.
