Convenience of Hearn/Boots/Benn Timing Breeds New Conspiracy Theory

As boxing conspiracy theories go, this is a good one. As is the case with all conspiracy theories, though, listen, but take everything with a grain of salt unless you actually know what the hell is really and truly going on.

Okay, then.

The conspiracy in question involves Matchroom Boxing bossman Eddie Hearn and a really convenient set of circumstances involving his fighter, IBF welterweight champ Jaron “Boots” Ennis, the IBF ordered Ennis-Karen Chukhadzhian purse bid (won by Chukhadzhian promoter P2M-Box Promotion), and Hearn’s other welterweight, Conor Benn.

According to the internet sleuthery, Hearn intentionally lost the purse bid to nudge Ennis up to junior middleweight and clear the path for Benn to compete for Ennis’ vacated world title. Supporting this theory is the fact that Benn went from unranked to no. 3 welterweight contender by the IBF as all the maneuvering began, setting him up to be the next highest-ranked 147-pounder after no. 1 Chukhadzhian and, therefore, in line for a bout with the Ukranian for the belt if Ennis vacates.

Admittedly, that’s a lot of convenient timing and a lot of just-happens-to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time good fortune. Benn’s “fortunate” ratings placement (he was also recently ranked in the Top 10 by the other three sanctioning bodies), is especially vexing for some since Benn is currently dealing with a PEDs-related suspension in his native UK.

If the buzzed-about conspiratorial storyline is true, it could be seen by Hearn as a “no harm-no foul” strategy to get Boots up to 154, where the bigger fights are, and, at the same time, get Benn into a world title bout to help repair his battered reputation. However, this win-win for Hearn would be a serious violation of Ennis’ trust and stated desires. The Philadelphian, in his own words, had prioritized welterweight unification over all other career goals.

Pushing the Hearn/Boots/Benn conspiracy theory is Brian Norman Sr., the father of WBO welterweight champ Brian Norman Jr., who recently passed on the financial terms for a unification bout offered to him by Hearn.

“@eddiehearn. Fast Eddie think he slick,” Norman wrote on Instagram, Friday. “Yo ass not trying to make no mfn fights u been working as a double agent the whole time. Done came and used the Americans as pawns to get what u REALLY WANT!! That’s Conor Benn a welterweight title.”

Along with the post, Norman Sr. made a video, further laying out what he feels to be the plot behind Hean’s moves.

“Plot Twist,” Norman Sr. said. “Hearn used Boots to get Conor Been in position to get that [IBF welterweight] title. He’s been mad at Boots for a long time, and he wanted Conor Benn to be the champion. He’s going to convince Boots to go to 154, and Conor Benn is going to be the champion at 147.”

The confusing part in Norman Sr.’s “revelation” is why Hearn would be “mad” at Boots. But the rest could be made to fit the circumstances as they played out.

Moving Ennis up to 154 would be the smart money move, with big fights against Terence Crawford, Vergil Ortiz, and others existing as possibilities.

It would also be smart to push Benn into the championship mix against a beatable opponent in Chukhadzhian.

Then, there’s the fact that many feel Hearn’s Ennis-Chukhadzhian purse bid of just over $1.5 million was a lowball offer, especially considering that it’s well less than half the $3.9 million bid made on Ennis’ last fight, originally slated to be against Cody Crowley.

It’s possible that Hearn masterminded this plot to get Ennis up to 154 and rid himself of a hideous Boots mandatory (a rematch of a hideously dull first go-round), without having his fighter see him as the bad guy in dashing his welterweight unification dreams. And it’s also possible that Hearn’s rehab project, Benn, was pushed into the right spot to benefit from however the chips may fall in all of this.

Possible.

As is the case with most conspiracy theories, we’ll probably never know the actual truth behind the theory.

For now, we just take things as they come, watch for Boots Ennis’ next move, and hope everything, at the very least, plays out in an entertaining manner.