Brian Norman Jr. Challenged: ‘Grow a Set’ and Face Unified Champion ‘Boots’

On April 12 at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) dazzled against Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs), winning by sixth-round TKO. The entire card was shown live on DAZN in over 200 countries. During the post-fight press conference, Eddie Hearn spoke about a unification fight between Ennis and Brian Norman Jr (27-0, 21 KOs), urging Norman to take action.

Hearn Discusses Jaron Ennis vs Brian Norman Jr After ‘Boots’ Dominates on April 12

Eddie Hearn Delivers Message to Brain Norman Jr

Jaron Ennis was imperious against Eimantas Stanionis, dominating from the first bell, picking his shots impressively while making his opponent miss. The excellent body shots from “Boots” began to take effect, with Ennis scoring a knockdown in round six.

While looking defeated on his stool at the end of round six, the fight was waved off and this clinical showing from Ennis made sure he was the new unified WBA/IBF and Ring Magazine welterweight champion.

During the post-fight presser, Ennis’ promoter Hearn had some words for Brian Norman Jr: “Guys, with all due respect to Brian Norman, he just boxed for about $150,000 on an undercard of Mikaela Mayer against Sandy Ryan at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

“If we go back to The Wells Fargo now to unify again, he will fill the whole place, 18–19,000 unquestionably. So there’s money in the pot, but you’ve got to show ambition as well.

“Brian Norman, for me, I spoke to Bob Arum during the week — he made it clear to me they want to try and make that fight. There’s probably close to 10 times the biggest payday of Brian Norman’s career to fight “Boots” Ennis.

“If you don’t want to get in the ring, you might as well retire from the sport, because what’s it all about? That kind of payday to fight the very best in the sport and prove yourself as a pound-for-pound great.

“So, stop with Twitter, stop with Instagram, grow a set of balls — and come and be in one of the biggest fights in the sport.”

Welterweight Division

Although the welterweight division still has talented fighters, it’s arguably not as stacked as it once was. Away from facing each other, it is difficult to see what else is out there for “Boots” and Norman, aside from Mario Barrios, the WBC champ.

I am sure we’ll hear plenty of back-and-forth between Team Ennis and Team Norman over the coming weeks and months, but a unification fight between the two would be a huge shot in the arm for the welterweight division.