In this week’s mailbag, we tackle your wide range of thoughts on Jaron “Boots” Ennis – including whether he’s been dodging opponents, whom he should face next, and the perception that we still can’t gauge just how good he actually is.

We also discuss two heavyweights who just called out Anthony Joshua after wins – Arslanbek Makhmudov and Guido Vianello – and if Joshua will go for them or in another direction; plus the potential fight between Deontay Wilder and Dave Allen; if the postponed bout between Sebastian Fundora and Keith Thurman was bound to bomb at the box office; and if junior middleweight Bakhram Murtazaliev needs to change promoters in order to move his career forward.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR BOOTS ENNIS?

I don't want to hear anymore about Jaron “Boots” Ennis dodging people. He just called out every beltholder. I don't like that he called out Jermell Charlo – that guy is history until he beats a credible contender in a warm-up. Good fights would be Serhii Bohachuk or Israil Madrimov; see if he can beat Madrimov more convincingly than Vergil Ortiz Jnr did. 

-SteveM

Ryan Songalia’s response: I’m with you on that. On one hand, I can see why some people are asking him to fight better fighters, but on the other hand you can only fight the people that are available. What was notable to me after his last fight is that Ennis was willing to call people out by name and put pressure on the top contenders and titleholders in a way that we hadn’t seen him do at 147lbs. 

I think that speaks to Ennis’ confidence in his conditioning and comfort in making 154lbs after years of killing himself to make 147lbs. It also doesn’t hurt the normally humble and laid-back Ennis that he has Eddie Hearn, easily the most vocal promoter in the sport, extolling his positives.

I do think that Ennis and Matchroom Boxing had the burden of promoting both sides of the fight last time because Uisma Lima didn’t offer anything in terms of building hype and interest in the fight. That said, I think it’s wholly unfair that people are trying to run Ennis down, claiming he fought a bum and a nobody. Lima had won four straight against opposition with zero losses or one loss on their record, was world-ranked by three sanctioning bodies and was also Ennis’ first opponent after his first time moving up in weight. 

The reaction does speak to Ennis’ potential, but also how impatient and fickle the sport and its observers can be. That said, I do think Ennis has run out of time-outs and needs to fight someone that is an A-level opponent next.

ANTHONY JOSHUA-ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV IS A MISMATCH

Arslanbek Makhmudov will get splattered by Anthony Joshua if Joshua’s got anything left. AJ seemingly does well with tall opponents, and not only that, Makhmudov moves like he's wading through treacle. Though his power could make it compelling watching. 

-Boro

Declan Warrington’s response: I’m inclined to agree. Even the declining Anthony Joshua’s a big favorite against Arslanbek Makhmudov. Those who’ve tested Joshua have typically been less one-dimensional opponents than Makhmudov represents. 

I question Joshua’s hunger in 2025 – the rematch with Daniel Dubois could have happened if he’d wanted it to – and I’ve questioned his confidence for even longer, but he’s professional enough to be in shape to beat Makhmudov, potentially spectacularly. 

A bigger threat to Joshua than Makhmudov’s abilities might be Joshua’s confidence, which is potentially at an all-time low; he increasingly seems to struggle with the status of being the favorite; the demands that that status places on him seem to make him over-think and hesitant, and therefore perform like he did, for example, against Robert Helenius.

NO WAY WILL GUIDO VIANELLO GET ANTHONY JOSHUA FIGHT

Yeah, no chance (“Guido Vianello, man in the arena, calls out Anthony Joshua”). It will be Arslanbek Makhmudov, because he was just in a “big” fight in the U.K. vs. Dave Allen. Vianello has zero profile in the U.K., so he offers nothing. 

I personally don’t think that AJ will be looking to do the “cash out” retirement fight vs. Deontay Wilder. I think he’s going to try for one last run at a title because he has always spoken about wanting to win a third title. Allen was (somehow) ranked No. 8 with the WBA, so presumably Makhmudov will be in the top 10 now, and a win over Makhmudov will get AJ in the top 10. 

Fabio Wardley vs. Joseph Parker is for the WBA’s interim title. If you do the maths, it’s fairly likely if AJ can get past Makhmudov, that Eddie Hearn can get him a title shot next summer. He will have a top 10 ranking, and Oleksandr Usyk would probably look at a third AJ match as an appealing retirement fight. If Parker or Wardley somehow end up with the belt, then Parker has unfinished business with AJ and Wardley vs. AJ is an easy sell. 

-NihonJim

Tris Dixon’s response: I get what you're saying about this one. But it could  come down to location, location, location. Let’s face it: AJ’s had several of his last few fights in Saudi Arabia and has not taken thousands of fans with him, so Vianello could work in Saudi. Also, if Joshua does fight in Africa, I could see Vianello getting the call for that fight. 

If it’s in the U.K., now Makhmudov has made some headlines, and that would put him ahead of Vianello in the pecking order. But I don’t see Vianello getting the call for the fight. I just don’t think he’s established enough as a brand; his record is not eye-catching enough for a fight poster; and while he might be in a pool of possible and plausible opponents, like you, I don’t see him getting the call. 

However, I don’t see Usyk-AJ III happening. Joshua’s had two bites of that cherry. If AJ has another big fight – Jake Paul aside! – it would surely have to be Tyson Fury. 

JURY STILL OUT ON JARON “BOOTS” ENNIS

The question remains: How good is Jaron Ennis? 

-Joseph

Lucas Ketelle’s response: Is he an all-time great, a greatest of all-time, or just an explosive fighter who meets his match at the highest level of the sport? People have opinions, but now is the time for us to find out. 

We have a ton of great junior middleweights. For example: Vergil Ortiz, Bakhram Murtazaliev, Jesus Ramos Jnr, Xander Zayas, Israil Madrimov and Brandon Adams. 2026 should be Ennis’ year; it is a chance for him to fulfill his potential against a crop of top contenders. 

The frustration I am sensing from this is Ennis' opponents. Eimantas Stanionis is a great win, but the memory lingers of two uninspiring performances against Karen Chukhadzhian. Ennis isn't all that active and in his prime. It is time to find out where he sits. He passes the eye test, but he lacks the Hall of Fame victories. For a fighter of his caliber, it is strange that we still haven’t learned much other than that he can beat fighters who aren’t pound-for-pound-level fighters.

BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV DESERVES BETTER

At this point, if I were Bakhram Murtazaliev, I would fire your current promoter and get in bed with a mainstream one. 

-anonymous2.0

Lance Pugmire’s response: Yes, the Russian is stagnating, but his rise to becoming a titleholder was navigated thanks to his link to promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. She maintained full confidence in him and kept him highly ranked by the IBF by negotiating step-aside deals with Premier Boxing Champions when Jermell Charlo reigned and became undisputed junior middleweight champion. 

With Murtazaliev lacking any name recognition in the U.S., she then landed him the breakthrough victories in Germany (to become world titleholder) and versus Tim Tszyu (to greatly elevate his profile). Now, he’s considered the division’s boogeyman, and even though Erickson Lubin passed him over for a richer purse versus Vergil Ortiz Jnr November 8 in Texas, Murtazaliev should land another opportunity to look sensational against top-ranked contender Josh Kelly next. Their purse bid is scheduled for October 21. 

It’d be a shrewd move by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh to invest in Murtazaliev bouts and arrange a string of big fights involving him in boxing’s deepest division.

BOOTS ENNIS STILL HASN’T FACED ANOTHER TOP-TIER FIGHTER

Will we ever see Boots with an A-level fighter? He calls everyone out all the time but never gets the great fights. Why? Is it him and his promotion, or is he avoided? He has repeatedly said he wants big-name opponents, moved up weight classes, and his promoter claims offers are on the table. 

At the same time, he’s made decisions (or has had constraints) about timing, contract terms, and weights, which might create delays or missed opportunities. Also, some criticism might stem more from fans wanting a blockbuster fight (like Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jnr) than from an objective analysis of all the behind-the-scenes business dynamics. 

-Cyborg Fangerloo

Owen Lewis’ response: I’m not sure we’ll ever know definitively what happened behind the scenes of negotiations for Ennis fights that didn’t happen, but the factors you mentioned are important to consider. 

Sure, there are the cases of an uncomplicated duck – Riddick Bowe avoiding Lennox Lewis, Canelo Alvarez weaving around David Benavidez – but often who to blame is murkier. In talking to heavyweight Richard Torrez Jnr earlier this year, I learned that Torrez plays a role in his matchmaking only in saying “yes” when his team comes to him with a name. Bob Arum had recently said that Torrez turned down a fight in Saudi Arabia, which Torrez told me he didn’t even know he’d been offered. 

So while I’m disappointed that Ennis hasn’t yet been in with an A-level fighter, I can’t be certain whether that’s more because he’s personally avoided the challenge or because his or another fighter’s team offered unappealing contracts.

As for if we’ll ever see him fight a great opponent? Sure, we will. 

Most boxers of Boots’ caliber get there at some point in their careers, even if it’s later than we’d like. Gennadiy Golovkin frustratingly couldn’t land a superfight until he was 35, but then went 24 spectacular rounds with Alvarez. (Let’s not talk about their third fight.) 

Gervonta “Tank” Davis looks like a notable counterexample, but in comparing his uninterested offerings during his press conferences for the upcoming, shambolic exhibition to Jake Paul to Boots’ purposeful callouts of every big name at 154lbs in the ring after his destruction of Uisma Lima, Boots clearly has greater ambitions. It looks like Vergil Ortiz could be next, and even if he’s not, I’m confident Boots will find his dance partner eventually.

DEONTAY WILDER VS. DAVE ALLEN SHOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED

I’d like to see Dave Allen vs Deontay Wilder now; I think that would be an entertaining scrap. Both are technically far from the best, with Wilder possessing power and Allen insane toughness. I actually think Allen could potentially walk Wilder down and stop him at this moment in time. 

-Elastic Recoilz

Declan Warrington’s response: There are few fighters I’d like to see earn the money and attention involved in a big fight more than David Allen. There are also few fighters I’d less like to see absorb the punishment Deontay Wilder is capable of delivering. 

Wilder, without question, has declined significantly. But the defeats since his punishing trilogy with Tyson Fury have been inflicted by Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang – at their best world-class heavyweights. Allen, for all of his abilities, has never been a world-class fighter. 

When Allen lost to David Price – whose power rivals Wilder’s – in 2019 he suffered with headaches in the aftermath. Since losing to Arslanbek Makhmudov, he’s spoken about going down in weight. I understand the appeal of Allen having a third fight with Johnny Fisher, but instead of fighting Wilder he’d be better served never fighting again. 

FUNDORA-THURMAN WAS GOING TO BOMB AT THE BOX OFFICE

PBC just keeps doing the same thing over and over. Why did they book Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman at Mandalay Bay? There was zero chance the fight would even fill out the bottom section. When has Fundora ever sold out any venue to be elevated into a major arena in Las Vegas on pay-per-view? The last Fundora PPV was a ghost town. 

Stop this crap already. Put the fights in a smaller venue and stop putting it on PPV. The only good thing is since nobody promotes these fights, nobody will notice that it's not happening. PBC is so frustrating. 

-LA_2_Vegas

Tris Dixon’s response: To an extent, I share your frustration. I’m actually frustrated about the wider picture: the lack of frequent big shows with good fights in the United States. It’s fallen off a cliff and at least PBC is trying; but if they have any luck, it’s usually bad luck. It looked like PBC might get some solid shows to close out the year, and they desperately needed it. But now, with this card down, it changes the dynamic and the momentum again. 

I see what you’re saying about the venue, but what I will say is that PBC’s shows that they have been able to put on have been largely decent. The problem is, they’ve been too infrequent and the PPV price points are far from fan-friendly. 

This sounds strange to write, but if they’d been able to get Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul over the line (I’m sorry), I really think it would have reinvigorated their business moving forward. It might have also put an end to Jake Paul as a boxer. It might have also taken Canelo finally toward David Benavidez (we could have only hoped). Then the world would look like a very different place for PBC closing out 2025.

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