Oh boy, where do I start? So, last weekend, there was this boxing match, right? Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, that welterweight champ dude, kinda on the edge right now ’cause he’s gotta decide between facing Shakhram Giyasov or dreaming up some fight that’s not gonna happen with Brian Norman Jr. or Mario Barrios. I’m just picturing him pacing about, unsure, wondering if he should throw some crazy Hail Mary or stick to Giyasov. It’s a mess, but then again, boxing’s always like this, right? So much drama.
Now, Giyasov – there’s a name that kinda rolls off the tongue awkwardly, right? Anyway, he’s 17-0, which is jaw-dropping, honestly, with 10 of those being knockouts. The guy looked like a whole junior middleweight when he fought Franco Ocampo and won by knockout in round four. I’m no boxing expert, but when a fighter looks like he’s in a different weight class, you know there’s some stuff at play – height, reach, who knows what else. But, Boots has gotta get past him, and I’m not even sure if Ennis is ready for that kinda heat. I mean, Giyasov’s big, skilled – it’s like trying to box the wind or something. And Eddie Hearn, his promoter, isn’t thrilled. “Can we not?”—I imagine him pleading. Plot twist though, Ennis could totally just ditch the title if he wants. Easy way out? Maybe, but hey, it’s an option.
And poor Giyasov, he’s been hanging tight since his Olympic silver days in 2016, letting others go ahead just to see Ennis maybe skip him again. It’s like waiting forever at the DMV just for everyone else to cut in line. Ennis, meanwhile, has no big fight with those other champs planned, so Giyasov’s next, and nah, he’s not gonna just step aside again. I wouldn’t either!
So, Norman is prepping for a fight with some Sasaki dude over in Japan, which makes me wonder why everyone wants these giant blockbuster fights when these little chess games are going on? But props to them both. Big money, I guess. What’s wild is how Norman’s been eyeing another showdown since his fight against Derriek Cuevas. His dad’s all for it, but it’s like, c’mon, just settle it already!
Now, let’s talk about Hearn’s comments post-fight. Picture this: Ennis claiming he was “just playing” during his last match. Classic. He was caught off guard more than once, and it looked less like play and more like dodging fireworks. The guy was aggressive, but man, those defensive holes were just screaming. It’s like leaving your front door wide open in a storm. And of course, Hearn’s yelling about how everything revolves around cash, which, yeah, he’s kinda right.
The kicker is, Stanionis got $1.8 million for his battle with Ennis, and Norman wants $400k more than that! Such high stakes. Hearn is barely upping the ante for Boots’ next fight, handing Norman just what Stanionis made. Seems all about proving oneself in the ring while getting some crisp, well-earned bills at the end. Hearn’s got this intense passion for it, noting that performances demand recognition.
At the end of the day, it’s all about proving you’re “the one” when you step into the ring. And even though folks are up in arms about money, the stakes, or just the glory, someone’s always ready to claim they’re the real deal. Boxing – a world of chaos, filled with dollars, fame, and a bewildering mix of bravado and strategy. Who knows what’ll happen next?
