Ennis Vs Norman Jr. – Negotiations Hit A Snag: Time For A Plan B?

Brian Norman Jr’s father, Brian Sr., says his son is no longer “optimistic” that the unification fight against IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will happen. Norman Sr. that he’d had to wait days between offers from Matchroom, and they’re always low.

Norman Sr. says he’s still hopeful the fight can get made between his son, WBO 147-lb champion Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs). They’re still sticking with it, but it’s not easy.

Hearn took to social media today, telling his followers that they’ve made three offers to Norman Jr., and he questions whether they’re “deluded” or using Boots’ name for recognition.

Fans Skeptical of Hearn’s Intentions

Fans believe Hearn has zero intention of putting Boots (32-0, 29 KOs) in with Norman and only wants to match him against his IBF mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian next. That’s an easy fight, and it wouldn’t be as expensive or risky as putting the easy-to-hit Ennis in against Norman Jr. Some fans think Hearn is sneaky, and protective of his fighters if he isn’t 100% confident they can win a fight. All you need to do is look at how Hearn has matched Anthony Joshua recently to show you his mothering instincts.

After all the big talk that Hearn did when he signed Boots, saying he would put him in great fights and turn him into a star, he’s matched him once against 35-year-old journeyman David Avanesyan. That’s a fight that fans weren’t excited about. Now, Hearn appears set to pit Ennis in a rematch that no one wants to see against Chukhadzhian.

Fans see how Hearn has matched Boots Ennis and Shakur Stevenson, similar to how he did with Demetrius Andrade when he was with Matchroom. Instead of putting Andrade against big names like Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin, he matched him against British fighters Jason Quigley, Liam Williams, and Luke Keeler.

After Andrade failed to gain popularity, Hearn seemed surprised and oblivious to the part he’d played. Now, he’s doing the same thing with Shakur Stevenson, matching him against British fighter Joe Cordina, and he’s about to do make the same mistake with Boots Ennis.

“Full transparency. We waited three days for another offer to even come back. We waited three days. It’s crazy,” said Brian Norman Sr. on Instagram, giving an update on his negotiations with Matchroom Boxing for a unification fight against IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

“When it did, it came back still low, still short. We can make this fight happen if Eddie Hearn is who he says he is and has Turki Alalahikh in his corner. We can make this work. We most definitely didn’t price ourselves [out]. That’s why this is even being talked about because you know Eddie wouldn’t have a problem coming out, saying we out-priced ourselves. We did not at all.”

Time for a Plan B?

It would be a good idea for Norman Sr. to start planning for other fights for his son, Brian Jr. because he might be wasting his time with Hearn. If this were a fight that Hearn wanted, he would have been on the phone night and day, trying to put it together for Boots Ennis. Norman Sr. saying that he’s had to wait three days between offers and that they’re repeatedly low tells you something. Hearn doesn’t want this fight, and he’s lowballing him.

Options for Norman Jr

– Teofimo Lopez
– Alexis Rocha
– Conor Benn
– Mario Barrios
– Eimantas Stanionis

“We’re ready to go. My son is not optimistic anymore about this fight happening. I totally am because I know my son can beat Jaron Ennis, and this is a great opportunity. But I can’t let him go out like that. I can’t let him do it for what they’re trying to say. I can’t do that. Either way it goes, I’m ready to go. Full transparency. So, yeah, Eddie, let’s go,” said Norman Sr.

We’ve sent 3 already.. the team are either deluded or just using Boots name. Interviews dropping soon, hopefully they are more serious than their negotiations suggest https://t.co/81fVLVwCMM

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) August 29, 2024