Will Jaron 'Boots' Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. be next?

Immediately after the fight, calls were made for Ennis to finally battle Vergil Ortiz Jr. 

During the DAZN PPV broadcast, Chris Mannix reported that Ortiz and Golden Boy Promotions are close to a deal that will see the interim WBC champion back inside the ring sooner rather than later. When asked by Mannix, Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs) made it clear that it could be Ortiz next or the other belt holders at 154 pounds, in WBC champion Sebastian Fundora or IBF titlist Josh Kelly. 

"Bring on Vergil. Bring on them belts," Ennis told Mannix. "I'm here to be undisputed in this weight class, so it don't really matter who it is. I'm taking over this division. This weight division is mine."

Ortiz took to social media and let the world know he wants Ennis and plans to finish him. 

It appeared that the fight would be taking place right around this time after Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) blasted out former world champion Erickson Lubin in the second round. Ennis walked into the ring and went face-to-face.  However, things broke down between Ortiz and Golden Boy. Ennis went in a different direction and fought Zayas on Saturday night.

While the time looks to be now to make the megafight between the two best guys at 154 pounds, it won't be next. Ortiz will likely take a fight in the interim, which is a smart move since he's been out for seven months, and by the time he returns, you are looking at either a 10 or an 11-month layoff. Realistically, you can't expect Ortiz to jump right into the fire against Ennis. 

Meanwhile, Ennis could do a three-belt unification with Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) if he gets by his fight on July 25 on the Anthony Joshua - Krisitan Prenga undercard on July 25. They would only be fighting one month apart, and are both under the Matchroom Boxing banner, so it would be an easy matchup to make. 

Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) is the wild card here. He's been out of action since wrecking Keith Thurman via sixth-round TKO at the end of March. He's got no fight on the horizon and a matchup with Ennis or Kelly would fight the bill. 

Things will go how Ennis wants them to go. He could end up waiting for Ortiz to settle their unfinished business. Or he could go belt chasing with either Kelly or Fundora. I think a fight with Fundora by the end of the year and then Ortiz in early 2027 is what the doctor ordered.