Boots Ennis vs Josh Kelly Unification Targeted for Winter
Boots Ennis vs Josh Kelly unification fight targeted for December or January, Eddie Hearn confirms.
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Jaron "Boots" Ennis and Josh Kelly are on track to meet in a three-belt super welterweight unification fight this December or in early January, promoter Eddie Hearn says.
Hearn confirmed the timeline during an interview with Pro Boxing Fans, saying plans are in place for the two beltholders to meet in that window. Kelly's trainer, Adam Booth, had already indicated both camps agreed to terms and are simply sorting out date and venue. Since Ennis and Kelly both fight under the Matchroom banner, there is no promotional tug-of-war to slow things down.
What Titles Are on the Line
Ennis and Kelly each hold a piece of the 154-pound puzzle, and a fight between them would unify three belts in one night. Ennis picked up the WBA title in his junior middleweight debut by stopping Uisma Lima, then added the WBO strap by outpointing a game Xander Zayas in June. Kelly holds the IBF title after a statement upset over Bakhram Murtazaliev in January, a result nobody saw coming given his career arc, and he backed it up with a win over Caiomhin Agyarko in his first defense.
Ennis comes in unbeaten at 36-0 with 32 knockouts and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport pound for pound. Kelly sits at 19-1-1 with 9 knockouts, a résumé that includes a lopsided 2021 loss to David Avanesyan and a shaky escape against Ishmael Davis that made plenty of people question whether he belonged in title fights at all. The Murtazaliev win changed that conversation overnight.
Why This Fight Matters Right Now
This booking also puts a pin in any momentum toward Ennis facing Vergil Ortiz Jr. That grudge match fell apart once before under messy circumstances, and it has not picked back up since Ortiz's side squared things away with Golden Boy. For now, Kelly is the live option, and a clean unification win would do more for Ennis's standing in the division than waiting around for a fight that keeps stalling.
Betting Angle
Ennis will open as a heavy favorite once sportsbooks post a line, and that price should reflect his power, volume and unbeaten record against a true knockdown-of-a-puncher style in Kelly. But bettors shouldn't sleep on Kelly's recent run. He has now won two straight at the highest level of the division, including a genuine upset, and he is live on his feet in a way his earlier career didn't suggest. The value here may not be picking the winner, since Ennis is the logical favorite, but in how the fight plays out, whether Kelly can make it competitive on the cards or extend it rounds the way he did against Davis. If the winner eventually lines up with whoever comes out of Sebastian Fundora vs. Ermal Hadribeaj later this month, this fight becomes even more significant for the 154-pound picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Jaron Ennis fight Josh Kelly?
Promoter Eddie Hearn says the Jaron Ennis vs Josh Kelly super welterweight unification fight is targeted for December or very early January.
What titles are at stake in Ennis vs Kelly?
Jaron Ennis holds the WBA and WBO super welterweight titles while Josh Kelly holds the IBF title, meaning three belts would be unified in the fight.
What is Josh Kelly's record going into a fight with Ennis?
Josh Kelly is 19-1-1 with 9 knockouts, having won the IBF title with an upset of Bakhram Murtazaliev in January before defending it against Caiomhin Agyarko.
