Jaron Ennis is looking to capture the undisputed super-welterweight title within the next 12 months, and whilst many fans deem a potential bout against Sebastian Fundora to be his biggest obstacle, ‘Boots’ thinks his main concern is an alternate 154lb rival.

Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas to claim the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles in a performance of the year candidate back at the Barclays Center in New York back in June, abandoning a possible super-fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr in order to pursue all four titles. 

First, the Philadelphian seems poised to collide with IBF titleholder Josh Kelly, with that unification clash anticipated to take place in January in the United States.

The victor is then expected to meet with WBC titlist Fundora – who defended his world title with a final-second knockout triumph over Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday – in mid-2027 in a battle to determine the second four-belt champion in the division’s history, after Jermell Charlo.

Yet, whilst stateside fans are currently debating whether the size of Fundora would be an issue for Ennis, ‘Boots’ told DAZN during the Fundora-Hadribeaj broadcast that he believes Kelly to be his toughest opponent in the super-welterweight division.

“The toughest [fight at 154]? I would say Josh Kelly. He can box, he can move, this is what everybody says that I can’t do! I am going to show y’all.”

Ennis-Kelly is close to being finalised for early January, with the State Farm Arena in Atlanta understood to be the most likely location for the event.