Vergil Ortiz Jnr set a violent tone for the next big fight to be made in the sport.
The unbeaten WBC interim 154lbs titlist made quick work with Erickson Lubin, whom Ortiz stopped in the 2nd round of their DAZN main event Saturday evening from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Immediately after the fight, Ortiz called for Jaron "Boots" Ennis to join him in the ring, to spark an instant and enthusiastic buzz over the prospects of an early 2026 showdown.
Also on the show:
Darius Fulghum, 14-1-1 (12 KOs) Maj. Draw (96-94 Fulghum, 95-95, 95-95) David Stevens, 15-2-1 (10 KOs) - super middleweight
Robin Sirwan Safar, 19-0 (13 KOs) UD10 (98-91, 99-90, 99-90) Derick Miller Jnr, 18-1 (10 KOs) - cruiserweight
Read below for all of the moments from Saturday's five-fight card, including Ortiz's explosive performance in the headlining act.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
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Boots: "I'm just ready to shut everybody up"
Jaron "Boots" Ennis was initially concerned that his trek to Fort Worth would be for naught.
Fortunately, he was given the opportunity for his voice to be heard. Vergil Ortiz Jnr (24-0, 22 KOs) made a point to summon Ennis into the ring, a moment that the unbeaten Philadelphia native considered a pleasant surprise.
"I'm glad they wanted me in the ring," Ennis told DAZN's Chris Mannix. "I was hearing things, they didn't want me in the ring, they didn't want me here. I had to pay my way to be here.
"The time is now [to fight Ortiz next]. I feel like this fight is bigger now than it was six months ago. I felt like I brought a lot of eyes to this weight division. I'm just ready to shut everybody up."
Ortiz, Ennis face off, promise to put pen to paper
Vergil Ortiz Jnr officially raised the stakes when he summoned Jaron "Boots" Ennis to meet him in the ring for his post-fight interview.
"Boots, get over here," Ortiz demanded of his divisional rival after assessing his 2nd round technical knockout of Erickson Lubin.
A tasty stare down and verbal exchange between the pair of young guns only further enhanced the thought of their squaring off next. Ennis vowed to make Ortiz pay for all the trash talk that came from the unbeaten Texan's team.
"We didn't start nothing, it was your father [Derek "Bozy" Ennis, Boots' head trainer] talking crazy," insisted Ortiz. "We just retaliated."
The hope is for the fight to take place near the end of the 1st quarter of 2026. Las Vegas is the early frontrunner to land the terrific clash, one of the best fights to be made in the sport today.
Bring on Boots!! Vergil Ortiz Jnr. halts Erickson Lubin in 2nd round
Vergil Ortiz Jnr returned to the knockout column in a big way. The unbeaten WBC interim 154lbs titlist made quick work of Erickson Lubin, whom he stopped in the 2nd round.
A barrage of punches along the ropes forced referee James Green to halt the contest at 1:30 of round two.
The quick hit come just four weeks after Jaron "Boots" Ennis blasted out Uisma Lima in the 1st round of their October 11 WBA interim 154lbs title fight in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Naturally, the immediate demand now shifts to a mouthwatering Ortiz-Ennis clash, which the Ennis side insists they absolutely want next and early in 2026.
It didn't take long for Vergil Ortiz Jnr to make the ring a very small place for Erickson Lubin. Action was tight and competitive early before Ortiz cut off the ring and consistently drove Lubin to the ropes. As effective as was Ortiz's approach, head trainer Robert Garcia still called for his fighter to calm his heart rate.
Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Erickson Lubin in the ring and set to fight
Erickson Lubin donned a traditional matador's outfit for his ring entrance, as he aims to tame the young bull in the form of his unbeaten opponent, Vergil Ortiz Jnr.
Ring announcer Thomas Treiber is now introducing both fighters to the crowd, as they prepare to throw down for 12 rounds or less.
De La Hoya keen to square off with Hearn, and make Ortiz-Ennis
Count Oscar De La Hoya among those on board with the idea of a Vergil Ortiz Jnr-Jaron "Boots" Ennis showdown.
"That is an amazing fight," De La Hoya told DAZN's Chris Mannix. "That’s a fight the whole world wants to watch."
Ortiz still has to get past Erickson Lubin in tonight's main event, which is coming up shortly.
The mouthwatering clash puts Golden Boy Promotions (Ortiz) and Matchroom Boxing (Ennis) at the negotiating table. De La Hoya believes he has an ideal solution to decide who gets to take the lead.
"I’m going up to Eddie Hearn now," insisted the Hall of Fame former 6-division champ and Golden Boy founder and chairman. "We will go into a phone booth and whoever comes out unscathed will have the upper hand."
Darius Fulghum, David Stevens grapple and maul their way to a draw
Scores: 96-94 Fulghum, 95-95, 95-95
Darius Fulghum and David Stevens fight to a 10-round, majority draw. Perfect outcome, as neither fighter deserved to be declared the winner.
Side note: Shout out to our very own Lucas "Big Dog Lukie" Ketelle, who predicted this fight had major potential to end in a draw.
10 rounds done (thank goodness) as crowd boos Fulghum-Stevens
We go to the scorecards, but tough to argue that either Darius Fulghum or David Stevens have won much of anything after tonight's drek. Ten rounds of grappling and other shenanigans littered the DAZN co-feature, which was emphatically booed by the crowd.
Ronnie Shields looks to will Darius Fulghum to victory
"If you want this, you got to push for it."
Renowned cornerman Ronnie Shields was direct and to the point with his super middleweight charge, Darius "DFG" Fulghum who is leaving a lot of opportunity on the table through eight rounds versus David Stevens.
Their awkward bout has been marred by constant grappling - Stevens early, Fulghum more so in the second half of the fight. The trend was of legitimate concern to Shields, who implored Fulghum to throw more punches in the final two rounds.
For more than three rounds, Darius Fulghum's fight with David Stevens was more "Destined For Grappling" than "Destined for Greatness."
It changed in an instant late in the 4th round, when Stevens caught Fulghum with a right hook. Fulghum was well in control to that point, but Stevens made a fight of it as he was backed into a corner. The shot briefly stunned Fulghum, who quickly recovered and let his hands go through the balance of the round.
Co-feature time: Darius Fulghum vs. David Stevens - 10 rounds, super middleweight
Darius Fulghum aims for Saturday's co-feature bout with David Stevens to mark the start of his second act to fulfill his "DFG" ("Destined for Greatness") ring moniker.
The 29-year-old, Houston-based contender fights for the first time since his narrow, split decision defeat to Bektemir Melikuziev in their thrilling WBA 168lbs title eliminator on May 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The setback marked his lone career defeat, though the type of night where his stock still rose.
Stevens has suffered both of his defeats in his last four contests but is coming off a 10-round win over unbeaten Petr Khamukov earlier this year.
Boots: "I'm letting everybody know - this is the fight I want next"
"I'm letting everybody know - this is the fight I want next."
Jaron "Boot" Ennis could not have been any clearer in his intention to face Vergil Ortiz Jnr next.
Ortiz, 23-0 (21 KOs) still must get past Erickson Lubin, 27-2 (19 KOs) in tonight's DAZN main event from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Ennis went out of his way to attend, even changing his originally scheduled flight to DFW from Philadelphia to a 4am departure to ensure he arrived on time.
""All the government stuff going on, I wanted to make sure I was here and let everyone know this is the fight I want," Ennis told DAZN's Chris Mannix, while also joined by promoter Eddie Hearn. "This fight has so much hype behind it. Even more than it did two months ago.
"This fight has a lot of hype behind it and I got a good fan base. So, let's go."
Jaron "Boots" Ennis is in the house - after trolling his fans
Jaron "Boots" Ennis is in fact in Fort Worth, after enjoying a laugh at the expense of his followers.
The unbeaten WBA interim 154lbs titlist has touched down and met up with promoter Eddie Hearn, as they plan to be in attendance for Vergil Ortiz Jnr's WBC interim title defense against Erickson Lubin. Ennis earlier posted on his IG story that his flight from Philadelphia to Dallas-Fort Worth was canceled as a result of the FAA reductions from the ongoing government shutdown.
Ennis has already agreed on his side with Matchroom on terms for a mouthwatering showdown versus Ortiz early next year. Of course, Ortiz still has to win tonight and escaped injury-free.
The bout has become a necessity, especially in light of their divisional counterparts raising the bar. WBO titleholder Xander Zayas chose to let his nuts hang and push for a two-belt showdown with WBA full titlist Abass Baraou, now set for Jan. 31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Jones floors Gamhour twice, earns 3rd round knockout
Amari Jones made the statement that Robin Sirwan Safar failed to do earlier in the night. The unbeaten middleweight made quick work of Shady Gamhour, whom he dropped twice en route to a 3rd round knockout.
Gamhour was down late in round three, though not late enough to where he could recover and coast to the bell. Jones spent the final 30 seconds of the round determined to close the show and did just that. A final right hook forced Gamhour to pitch forward, cover up and then fall to the canvas. The bout was stopped on the spot.
Official time 2:56 of round three.
Jones now 15-0 (13 KOs), resumes knockout ways after his five-fight stoppage streak was halted with a decision win in May. Fight also marked his debut with Golden Boy Promotions
Third fight of the night is now underway. Amari Jones - once a longtime stablemate of former two-division champ Devin Haney and now under the Golden Boy banner - takes on "Slim" Shady Gamhour ("Slim" is not his actual nickname; I'm just being an ass).
Surreal moment for Gamhour, a 35-year-old Swede who is now trained by childhood boxing hero Roy Jones Jnr.
Joshua Edwards informed DAZN's Chris Mannix during their post-fight interview that his 2026 campaign will open at the 8-round level.
Edwards, 5-0 (5 KOs) turned pro in a 4-rounder on April 19 and quickly advanced to 6-rounds. The scheduled distance has proven moot; Saturday marked the first time he's even gone into the 3rd round.
Joshua Edwards still a (technical) knockout, every time out
Joshua Edwards kept alive his perfect knockout-to-win ratio with a 3rd round stoppage of Zeno Vooris.
Confusion over the ending, along with disgust from Vooris who clearly wanted to continue. Edwards considerably picked up the pace, to the point where Vooris' corner signaled for the bout to be stopped.
Official, 2:34 of round 3. Edwards now ends 2025 at a perfect 5-0 (5 KOs). Vooris fell to 5-2 (5 KOs).
Zeno Vooris successfully pleaded with the ringside physician to allow the bout to continue. Vooris with growing cut over right eye and now a small nick just outside his left eyelid.
Joshua Edwards now enters the 3rd round for the first time as a pro. Cut over Vooris' right eye deemed the result of a headbutt, so let's see if Edwards picks up pace to keep alive his perfect knockout-to-win ratio.
Joshua Edward was just as irritated as were the fans when time was called roughly 1 minute into the 2nd round. Referee asked ringside physician to examine a miniscule cut over Vooris' right eye.
Action resumes, cut worsens - time once again called.
Joshua Edwards will see round 2 for first time since pro debut
It's been a whole seven months since Joshua Edwards has seen the 2nd round of a fight - that moment came in his pro debut on April 19. His three-fight 1st round knockout streak comes to an end as we begin... round two.
Zeno Vooris now seeks to become the first fighter to extend Edwards all the way to the 3rd round.
