Jaron Ennis and Brian Norman Jr. Very Close to Unification Bout

In a recent and extensive interview with Brunch Boxing, Brian Norman Sr., father and trainer of the undefeated WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs), revealed that a unification bout with Jaron “Boots” Ennis is “very close” to being finalized. This highly anticipated showdown, which would unify the IBF and WBO welterweight titles, is tentatively set for November 9 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Norman Sr. emphasized that both his son and Ennis are fully committed to making this fight happen. He stated, “We want this fight to happen, the Ennis’ want this fight to happen, the world wants this fight to happen, the welterweight division needs this fight to happen, boxing needs this fight to happen, and we gonna make it happen.” He further noted that the only remaining obstacle is the purse for Norman Jr., which is now “very close” to their desired figure. According to Norman Sr., the two sides are much less than a million dollars apart, making the prospect of the fight all the more likely.

Norman Sr. also addressed the ongoing social media discourse that has suggested either fighter might be avoiding the matchup. He was clear in dispelling these rumors, stating that neither his son nor Ennis is ducking the fight. Instead, he pointed to a breakdown in communication, particularly from Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, as the source of the misinformation.

The negotiation timeline, as clarified by Norman Sr., began with an offer from Ennis’s team on August 17, followed by a counteroffer from Norman’s team on August 18, and another counteroffer from Ennis’s team on August 20. He noted that both fighters made public statements about the bout without being fully aware of the ongoing back-and-forth negotiations.

While Norman Sr. acknowledged the challenges that have arisen during the negotiation process, he remains confident that the fight will be finalized soon. However, he strongly rebuffed the idea of alternative bouts if an agreement isn’t reached, particularly dismissing the possibility of Ennis facing Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) and Norman Jr. squaring off against Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs). “Don’t want nothing to do with it…There’s no need to talk about that,” he said, making it clear that Norman Jr. is focused solely on the unification bout with Ennis.

With both fighters looking to solidify their positions in a fragmented welterweight division, a unification bout between the two would be the boost the division and the sport desperately needs. Sources tell Brunch Boxing that an official announcement about this potential showdown is expected soon.