{"id":448950,"date":"2026-02-02T10:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T10:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/448950\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:22:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T10:22:24","slug":"mike-coppinger-154-is-about-more-than-vergil-ortiz-jaron-ennis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/448950\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Coppinger: 154 Is About More Than Vergil Ortiz-Jaron Ennis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of course, that\u2019s a showdown between Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz<\/a>. Besides the fascinating style clash that features a boxer-puncher against an aggressive pressure fighter, both boxers are in their prime and carry the most starpower in the division. <\/p>\n

While talks stall, increasing doubt we see this matchup next, there\u2019s plenty on tap this weekend that will help bring some much-needed clarity to junior middleweight.<\/p>\n

Xander Zayas will attempt to unify junior middle titles Saturday <\/a>with a homecoming fight vs. Abass Baraou in San Juan, Puerto Rico. <\/p>\n

Top Rank is still seeking a media-rights deal after their longtime partnership with ESPN ended over the summer. That means Zayas-Baraou will be streamed on the promotion\u2019s \u201cclassics\u201d channel<\/a> that usually features fights from the vast Top Rank library. <\/p>\n

Zayas is looking to become the next star from the boxing-crazed island, and while he\u2019s talented and athletic, he\u2019s yet to show the skills needed to develop into an elite fighter. Thankfully, time is on his side at 23 years old. <\/p>\n

And while he\u2019s already set to become a unified champion with a win, it won\u2019t be easy if Baraou\u2019s most-recent performance is any indication. The German applied nonstop pressure in a major upset decision over Yoenis Tellez in August to win the title. <\/a>Best of all, Baraou left no doubt by scoring a late knockdown. Zayas will have to keep his jab active and throw with volume to fend off Baraou, similar to the way Dalton Smith boxed against Subriel Matias. <\/a>Whoever wins will be in line for some lucrative paydays in a star-studded division. (Zayas is rated No. 5 by The Ring<\/a> at 154 pounds; Baraou is No. 8.)The two marquee names in the division are Ennis and Ortiz; the sides, of course, have been in talks for months. Ortiz sued Golden Boy Promotions earlier this month<\/a>, perhaps complicating negotiations toward a fight. <\/p>\n

Sebastian Fundora, who holds a title, is expected to defend against Keith Thurman in a rescheduled fight<\/a> that was postponed in October. Fundora is always fascinating when you consider his dizzying size (6-foot-5 1\/2) and aggressive fighting style. He\u2019s No. 2 at 154 pounds, one spot behind Ortiz. <\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s Bakhram Murtazaliev, who defends his title vs. Josh Kelly on Saturday in Newscastle, England. Murtalizev ripped through Tim Tszyu in a major upset TKO victory, but that was in October 2024 and he hasn\u2019t competed since. <\/p>\n

The Russian will go on the road for his first defense as England\u2019s Kelly looks to add another title to Eddie Hearn\u2019s stable and ostensibly give Matchroom a viable Plan B for Boots if an Ortiz fight can\u2019t be finalized for the spring.<\/a> Kelly can box well from the outside, but against a dangerous puncher, he must prove his punch resistance and defense are better than he displayed in a 2021 TKO loss to David Avanesyan.Murtazaliev is rated No. 4 by The Ring at junior middleweight. The No. 3 boxer, Israil Madrimov, returned to the ring Saturday with a tougher than-expected unanimous decision<\/a> over long-odds underdog Luis Salazar. <\/p>\n

The fight was Madrimov\u2019s first since a decision defeat to Ortiz in February. Subsequent to the loss, Madrimov underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and meniscus. The Uzbek also dealt with the lingering effects of bronchitis and pneumonia vs. Ortiz. <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t resemble the same fighter who gave Terence Crawford so much trouble in 2024. Maybe it was the layoff, or perhaps he\u2019s not past the respiratory issues. Hopefully he\u2019ll find another fight sooner than later to diagnose where he\u2019s at.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere at 154 are two fighters who haven\u2019t competed since 2023, yet remain in the public eye when the division is discussed. Jermell Charlo last fought in September of that year when he moved up two weight classes and was throughly outclassed by Canelo Alvarez. <\/p>\n

Charlo said on social media recently that he\u2019s looking to return to 154, and given his name recognition he fits as an opponent for many of the top junior middleweights. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Errol Spence is the other. He was slated to return against Fundora last year in a title bid at 154 but remains sidelined if not officially retired. He\u2019s been linked to fights with Charlo and Tszyu over the last few months. <\/p>\n

At the back of the rankings is No. 9 Serhii Bohachuk, who returns Sunday vs. Radzhab Butaev on the second Zuffa Boxing show from Las Vegas. With no junior middleweight division in Zuffa, Bohachuk and Butaev will compete at middleweight. While Bohachuk has competed at the 160-pound limit a couple of times, Butaev will make his debut there. <\/p>\n

Irishman Callum Walsh defeated Carlos Ocampo on Friday in the inaugural Zuffa Boxing headliner. Walsh, too, departed junior middleweight with the division eliminated from the upstart boxing league. <\/p>\n

Mike Coppinger is The Ring\u2019s senior insider. He co-hosts \u201cInside the Ring\u201d every Monday with Max Kellerman. Follow him on X<\/a>\/Instagram<\/a>: @MikeCoppinger