"Promoter Rick Mirigian Disappointed by Stalled Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Jaron Ennis Negotiations"
Rick Mirigian, the manager of Vergil Ortiz Jnr, finds himself in a reflective mood as he comes to terms with the disappointment of the scrapped fight against Jaron "Boots" Ennis. The much-anticipated showdown, initially set for the February 22 Riyadh Season event, is now off the table, eliciting a mix of frustration and criticism from Mirigian.
The unraveling of the fight commenced following Ennis' recent victory over Karen Chukhadzhian, where Ennis hinted at a potential move up to junior middleweight. Mirigian, disheartened by these developments, emphasized the significance of Ennis' and his team's prior statements regarding the weight class. Mirigian expressed his disappointment, stating, "Of course, the weight was not an issue... Just go back and listen to them all!"
Mirigian believed the fight with Ennis was a real possibility, considering Ennis as a unique talent in the sport. However, the turn of events left him feeling let down as he reflected on the missed opportunity. "The worst part of this all is that a fighter, his trainer, and his promoter publicly called out Vergil multiple times... and claimed to have made us an offer – which was a lie."
The fallout from the failed negotiations left Mirigian lamenting the lost potential of what could have been a historic fight. He emphasized that Ortiz had shown willingness to make the fight happen, contrasting Ennis' apparent reluctance. The confusion surrounding the situation centered on the weight class dilemma, with Ennis holding the IBF welterweight title and Ortiz unable to compete in that weight division.
Ennis, addressing the situation on social media, distanced himself from alleged negotiations and hinted at a decision regarding his weight class in the future. This public back-and-forth and private misunderstandings between the two camps soured any chances of a future matchup, at least for the foreseeable future.
Mirigian concluded by asserting that Vergil would not engage in such negotiations again, implying that Ennis may have missed his shot at facing Ortiz. The fallout from this episode may have lasting implications on how Ennis is perceived by the public in the boxing world.
In the final analysis, the saga of the Ortiz-Ennis bout serves as a cautionary tale in the world of boxing negotiations, where miscommunication and differing priorities can lead to missed opportunities and damaged reputations.
