Fight Freaks Unite hit a big milestone recently: 5 years of paid subscriptions being available, which gives you access to everything. I can’t thank the paid subscribers enough! For independent boxing journalism, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription if you haven’t already! This wouldn’t exist without them. Thank you! Go here:Subscribe nowGive a gift subscriptionSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to the YouTube channelSubscribe to DAZN's Ultimate PlanLeave a commentAhead of a formal announcement that Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Josh Kelly will meet in a three-belt junior middleweight unification fight, Matchroom Boxing this week took care of another piece of business first.The company made separate announcements that it had signed each to a contract extension.They have an agreement in place to meet to unify their titles in a DAZN headliner. The fight does not have a set date yet but is targeted for January or February and likely will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, sources involved told Fight Freaks Unite.Click photo to subscribe to DAZN — The Global Home of BoxingI am in my 27th year of full-time boxing coverage. Take advantage of that experience by upgrading to a paid subscription for full access to all posts and comments — and support independent journalism.Subscribe nowGive a gift subscriptionMatchroom Boxing announced that the deal for WBO/WBA titleholder Ennis covers his next seven fights. Typically, Matchroom does not announce the number of bouts when it signs fighters.“I am delighted that Jaron has signed a new deal with us,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said. “It’s an honor that this pound-for-pound star continues to trust us with his career, and the whole team intends to repay that faith by delivering what he wants; unification and undisputed fights and the biggest names and nights in the sport.”Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs), 29, has had five fights so far since initially singing with Matchroom in April 2024. The company helped establish him as an attraction in his hometown of Philadelphia and also secured him a welterweight unification fight against Eimantas Stanionis in 2025 and a junior middleweight unification fight against Xander Zayas in June. Ennis stopped Zayas in the seventh round of a fight of the year contender and one of this year’s most significant fights.“I’m excited for my extended partnership with Matchroom,” Ennis said. “Together we have aligned ourselves in all the right positions to get what I want, and that’s undisputed. The world is about to see why I’m different and why I’m the best fighter in the world. These guys aren’t on my level. They can’t do what I do. Road to undisputed. Road to the No. 1 pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.”Now he will seek to unify with IBF titleholder Kelly, whose new deal was announced as a “multi-fight contract extension.”“We are thrilled to extend Josh Kelly’s contract with Matchroom Boxing,” Hearn said. “He is an elite operator and one of the pound-for-pound best the U.K. has to offer. It is no secret that we have some huge plans ahead for Josh in 2027, where he will be aiming to add more world titles to his collection.”Kelly (19-1, 9 KOs), 32, a 2016 British Olympian, claimed the belt by majority decision over Bakhram Murtazaliev in January and made his first defense on July 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he won a competitive unanimous decision against Caoimhin Agyarko. However, Kelly, who called out Ennis after the fight, suffered facial cuts and a severe gash across his nose, that led to his taking off the rest of the year.“I’m world champion and I am very excited about the future with Matchroom Boxing,” Kelly said. “Now I only want the biggest fights in the division. Unifications. Bring it on.”A note to subscribersI sincerely appreciate your readership. If you’re reading, it means you love boxing just like I do. If you’ve been reading you also know the quality and quantity of what I produce. It’s one-stop shopping. 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If you have read my work at all during the past 26 years I’ve covered professional boxing you know that I keep it real and that will not change.To upgrade your subscription please go here:Subscribe nowThank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!Photos: Matchroom BoxingGive a gift subscriptionLeave a commentShare Fight Freaks Unite Follow me on X/TwitterFollow me on FacebookFollow me on BlueskyFollow me on InstagramSubscribe to DAZNCheck out Big Fight WeekendGet more from Dan Rafael in the Substack appAvailable for iOS and AndroidGet the app
