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In an interview today, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis discussed his failed negotiations with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. Ennis says he’s still hopeful the fight can be made.
Ennis wants Norman Jr. to accept his promoters’ offer for a clash on November 9th in Philadelphia. Brian Norman Sr. says they’ve been offered $1.7 million, and he wants another $500,000 added to that, putting it at 2.2 million. He told thaboxingvoice, “Top Rank takes 25 off the top.”
They understandably want the deal to be sweetened, knowing the fight will sell out a 15,000-seat venue in Philadelphia and bring huge ratings on DAZN and ESPN.
Given fans’ interest in an Ennis-Norman unification, they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they agreed to Eddie Hearn’s $1.7 million offer. The actual take-home would be considerably less after taxes and Top Rank’s money is taken out. Fans want to see Hearn sweeten the offer to whatever Norman is asking. Asking for an additional $500K shouldn’t be a big deal for Hearn because Boots’ popularity will increase if he wins, helping him become a PPV attraction. That’s the goal obviously.
Hearn doesn’t seem to understand that if he wants Ennis to have the opportunity to become undisputed champion at 147, he’s going to need to dig deep to pay the champs. They’re not going to agree to the chicken feed that he’s offering to them. These guys are world champions, and it doesn’t make sense for them to agree to lowball offers to help Hearn protect his profit margins.
Ennis Urges Norman Jr. to Accept Offer
“We sent another offer, and they asked for double. We’re trying our best to make this fight happen,” said Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to YSM Sports Media, talking about the Brian Norman Jr. negotiations. “I don’t know if they’re looking for a retirement check or what. Like I said. I’m here to collect belts. I’m here to be undisputed and collect all these belts and make these biggest fights happen.”
If Boots wants to be undisputed, he needs to put a fire under Hearn’s backside to get him to meet Norman Jr’s asking price because the $1.7 million offer isn’t going to get the job done. Even if it’s $3 million, Hearn needs to find the funds somewhere. Boots isn’t going to become a star without beating talented fighters like Norman Jr. He needs this fight because he won’t become a PPV attraction by beating veteran David Avanesyan or rematching Karen Chukhadzhian.
“Legacy. I’m here to be undisputed to take over this weight division,” said Boots when asked what’s the most important to him, money or legacy. “Most definitely,” said Ennis about the $1.7 million being Norman’s biggest payday of his career. “I heard him say that I ain’t a big dog. If you think I ain’t a big dog, why would you turn down your biggest payday multiple times? Let’s make this fight happen.
Brian Norman Jr.’s Manager Reveals Tax Implications
Norman Jr’s manager says the $1.5 million would be chopped to $810,000 before taxes are removed. You can only imagine what will be left after the taxes are removed. If Norman Jr. is left with less than half a million after expenses and taxes are taken out of the $1.5m, it’s hardly worth taking the fight, especially with the risk involved. If this were just a regular opponent that Norman was fighting, that kind of a payday would make sense, but not for a fight of this magnitude,
“They doing too much talking, but they [Team Norman] ain’t doing no action. Sign them papers. Sign on the lines, and stop putting on a show for Instagram and YouTube. Nobody wants to hear all that. Sign on the dotted line, make this fight happen. I want this fight. Let’s make it happen right now,” said Ennis.
$1.5m gets chopped $810k (before taxes). Negotiate mo’ money mane. #boxing
— Adrian Clark (@TheAdrianClark) August 30, 2024
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