Key points:
- Jaron “Boots” Ennis is targeting a unification fight with IBF junior middleweight champion Josh Kelly
- Both fighters are signed to Matchroom, removing typical promotional obstacles to the fight
- Eddie Hearn floated a November date in America as early as July
- A win would leave Ennis one belt away from undisputed status at 154 pounds
Jaron “Boots” Ennis has his eyes on collecting a third junior middleweight title, and Josh Kelly’s IBF belt offers him the cleanest path to get there.
Ennis already holds the WBA and WBO titles in the division, and both he and Kelly fight under the Matchroom banner, removing many of the promotional complications that typically stall unification fights between rival stables. Eddie Hearn floated the matchup before Kelly’s July 25 defence against Caoimhin Agyarko even took place. “There’s a very good chance that Josh Kelly will fight Boots in November,” Hearn told iFL TV at the time. “In America. Not Newcastle.”
Kelly did his part by getting past Agyarko, though he emerged with cuts over both eyes that required careful management from trainer Adam Booth to keep his end-of-year timeline intact. With Booth’s eight-week recovery estimate now on track, the fight Hearn floated in July looks increasingly realistic.
Stylistically, Kelly brings sharp movement and real experience to the table, but Ennis carries clear advantages in hand speed, power, and offensive variety. Kelly would likely need the best performance of his career to keep Ennis from eventually taking control. For Ennis, the appeal is straightforward regardless of how competitive the fight proves: a win puts him one belt away from undisputed status at 154 pounds, with only Sebastian Fundora’s WBC title standing in the way.