Promoter Bob Arum has revealed an exciting deal for Teofimo Lopez to face Jaron 'Boots' Ennis on March 1, 2025, on a joint PPV on DAZN and ESPN. This move has sparked a lot of buzz in the boxing world.

A High-Stakes Clash in the Boxing Ring

Arum's Negotiations

Lance Pugmire @pugboxing reports that Top Rank boss Arum is actively negotiating for Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) to move up to welterweight and challenge 'Boots' Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) for his IBF 147-lb belt. The uncertainty surrounding whether this fight will actually happen adds to the intrigue. Teofimo recently made some bold claims about being the "King of the 140-lb division" and offering splits to Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, but there was no response. It will be fascinating to see if he accepts a similar deal with Boots Ennis. His career has taken a hit after recent back-to-back mediocre performances for Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.Teofimo has faced a series of opponents since his victory over Vasily Lomachenko on October 17, 2020. These include Steve Claggett, Jamaine Ortiz, Josh Taylor, Sandor Martin, Pedro Campa, and George Kambosos Jr. None of these six fights have really connected with the boxing public, and his once sky-high popularity has plummeted. He is now seen as an oddball character, often sounding confused in interviews and inconsistent in his performances. It seems like he no longer has his senses in the ring.

A Desperate Move for Teofimo

From Top Rank's point of view, it's understandable why they are willing to take this risky step with Teofimo. His career has hit a rough patch, and they need to do something to revive it. He has already suffered losses to Jamaine Ortiz and Sandor Martin, along with his defeat against George Kambosos. If they don't put him in with Boots, he is likely to lose to one of the no-name fringe contenders they keep matching him against. This fight could be a make-or-break moment for Teofimo.

Ennis' Performance and Ambition

If Ennis performs like he did in his recent fight against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9th, Teofimo has a good chance of winning. Karen exposed Boots' weaknesses, schooling him for nine rounds before he tired. Hearn is likely to pursue this fight with Teofimo as it might be his best opportunity before his contract ends. He may regret signing Boots after his lackluster performances against Chukhadzhian and David Avanesyan. If Ennis loses, at least he will have faced a well-known fighter.Boots made a bad decision by turning down the offer to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. for his WBC interim 154-lb title on the massive February 22nd card in Riyadh. This showed his lack of ambition and risk-taking ability. It remains to be seen how Ennis will perform in the upcoming fight with Teofimo and if he can live up to the expectations.