Undefeated welterweight contender Delante Johnson, who has faced Vergil Ortiz Jr and Jaron Ennis, believes he has “more tools up his sleeve”.
The two undefeated super welterweight operators have been on a collision course since their days at 147 pounds but, even now, it would appear that their all-American clash remains just steps away from materializing.
Nonetheless, there is still hope that at some point later this year the two men will finally face off in what promises to be a truly gripping affair.
Ortiz established himself as the most proven competitor at 154 pounds, including points victories over Israil Madrimov and Serhii Bohachuk.
It was then a two-round demolition job against Erickson Lubin, which took place in November, that cemented the 27-year-old as one of the most fearsome punchers in his division.
Ennis, meanwhile, managed to surpass his domestic rival at welterweight, becoming a unified world champion following his sixth-round stoppage victory over Eimantas Stanionis in April 2025.
After that, “Boots” made the decision to move up in weight and faced Uisma Lima, whom he mercilessly knocked out in just one round last October.
Since then, a fight between Ortiz and Ennis has been teased by Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who is promoting the latter as a real possibility for this year.
Fans remain hopeful, but recent comments from Ortiz’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, and his manager, Rick Mirigian, do not bode well for the fight’s chances.
If so, Delante Johnson, who spoke with YSM Sports Media, is as good a man as any to evaluate the pair. After several rounds of fighting with Ennis and Ortiz, he was asked to compare and contrast.
“I feel like Vergil has good timing, and he’s strong. And he has a good head movement when he’s aggressive, knocking someone down.
“But I feel like ‘Boots’ has more tools up his sleeve. He can go from [orthodox to southpaw]he has speed, power, [and] he has very good timing.
“His footwork is really good and he’s crafty and smart.”
Whether Ortiz’s recent performances have changed Johnson’s mind remains to be seen, but the American nevertheless seems more convinced by Ennis’ flashy skills.
