Eddie Hearn has vented his frustrations over being unable to secure a unification fight for IBF welterweight world champion, Jaron Ennis.
Hearn, who promotes Ennis, says he has sent three offers to WBO champion, Brian Norman Jr, all of which have been pushed back on by the American’s team.
Norman Jr’s father, Brian Norman Sr claims all three proposals are well below their valuation, although Hearn insists the offers are over $1m and has questioned whether the 23-year-old is serious about fighting ‘Boots.’
“It’s frustrating,” the 45-year-old told Matchroom Boxing.
“You hear everything that Brian Norman Sr is saying and none of it really makes sense.
“This is a really simple situation. The first offer that was made to Brian Norman was nicely over $1m.
“They felt that [it] was not insulting but was nowhere near.
“We’ve made two more offers. A quarter of a million dollars every time now to levels that Brian Norman will never see.
“We keep getting told we’re close then we go back and make another offer and then we’re told by his team that we’re actually not that close and I start to think, Brian Norman do you want this fight or are you clout chasing?
“Do you wanna be great Brian Norman?
“You say, ‘Boots is overrated.’
“You say, ‘He’s not the boogeyman,’ then why wouldn’t you take this bucket load of money to prove that you’re the best welterweight in the world.”
The Matchroom Chairman is up against the clock to secure a unification with the IBF ordering Ennis to defend his crown against Karen Chukhadzhian, scheduling a purse bid for September 3.
‘Boots’ already routed the Ukrainian in a comfortable unanimous decision victory in January 2023 and Hearn admits he has no desire to see a rematch.
Matchroom have also made offers to WBA champion, Eimantas Stanionis and WBC titlist, Mario Barrios, both of which have been rejected.
Stanionis went back-and-forth with Hearn on social media last Friday, claiming the offer was unacceptable, although Hearn has questioned whether the Lithuanian, like Norman Jr, truly wants to face ‘Boots.’
“Brian Norman, who no one’s ever heard of,” he added.
“Has a chance to beat Jaron Ennis and become a superstar in the sport and make a fortune on the way.
“But, he talks about it, but he’s not about it and Stanionis, don’t even get me started on Stanionis.
My adviser doesn’t deal with rubles 🤣make an real offer 🫡 this is why i didnt even hear about it 😀 https://t.co/ELEUwS2ld4
— Eimantas Stanionis (@E_Stanionis) August 23, 2024
“That geezer piped up on Twitter. When I made the offer to Stanionis, I nearly threw up in my caviar and now he don’t wanna know either.”
Ennis successfully defended his world title with a fifth round retirement win over David Avanesyan in July in a homecoming clash in Philadelphia, his first under the Matchroom banner.
The 27-year-old has been targeting a showdown with WBA super welterweight world champion, Terence Crawford, although Hearn feels the Omaha man is only eyeing a bout with Canelo Alvarez.
