Brian Norman Jr., the WBO welterweight champion, recently stood firm on his decision to reject a $1.7 million offer for a unification bout against IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, stating that his "price is different now" due to his status as a world champion. The 23-year-old undefeated fighter made it clear that he’s willing to fight anyone, but the financials need to make sense for a fighter at his level. Despite being offered a significant payday for the bout, Norman and his team believe they deserve more, especially considering the financial implications of fighting in Ennis’ hometown and the deductions from taxes and promotional fees.
Boxing fans on social media were quick to react, with many feeling Norman should have accepted the offer, given that it was more money than he’s ever made. However, Norman Sr., Brian’s father and manager, requested a $500,000 increase to cover costs, but promoter Eddie Hearn refused to budge. The collapsed negotiations mean that Norman Jr. will now move forward with a title defense on the undercard of Keyshawn Davis’ fight in November, while the highly anticipated unification clash with Ennis remains off the table.
The missed opportunity affects both fighters, not just Norman. Ennis, who has been vocal about his desire to become the undisputed champion at welterweight, now sees that dream slipping away due to a financial impasse. For Norman Jr., the decision to turn down the fight is a statement of his confidence in his value as a rising star in the division. His impressive performance in May against Giovani Santillan showed that he has the potential to be a bigger name than Ennis if he continues to win and excite fans.
Eddie Hearn’s role in the stalled negotiations has also drawn attention. Some fans believe Hearn isn’t investing enough energy into promoting Ennis the way he does for stars like Anthony Joshua and Shakur Stevenson. Ennis’ recent performance against David Avanesyan didn’t generate much excitement, leading to speculation that Hearn’s interest in the fighter may be waning. As a result, some fear Ennis may not receive the same level of support from Hearn moving forward.
The lack of momentum behind Ennis’ career mirrors a pattern seen before with fighters like Demetrius Andrade, who signed with Matchroom but struggled to secure big fights. Now, with Ennis seemingly facing a similar fate, questions are being raised about how Hearn plans to handle his future.
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