Jaron Ennis didn’t fly to Dallas on Saturday so that he could discuss opponents other than Vergil Ortiz.

Now that Ortiz knocked out Erickson Lubin, Ennis sees no reason why he and Ortiz shouldn’t fight next, sometime early in 2026. Ennis has been criticized for fighting someone other than Ortiz in his junior middleweight debut last month, but the former Ring, IBF and WBA welterweight champ hopes Ortiz and his handlers are as serious as he is about making one of the most fascinating fights in boxing.

Ennis expressed how badly he wants to oppose Ortiz next when they stood face to face in the ring following Ortiz’s very impressive victory over Lubin at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The Philadelphia native repeated his position during an interview with The Ring before he left the venue.

“It’s no more talking,” Ennis said. “Hopefully, they sign them papers and make this fight happen, cuz I feel like this is the biggest fight in boxing. And like I said, I’m about to show the world why I’m the best in the world.”

The timing seems perfect for Ortiz, 27, and Ennis, 28, to give fans a fight they’ve wanted to see since they were up-and-coming welterweights.

Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 1 junior middleweight contender for an unclaimed championship. Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs, 1 NC) is ranked seventh, but he held The Ring, IBF and WBA 147-pound crowns before he decided he couldn’t continue squeezing down to the welterweight limit.

DAZN executives have set aside February 28 as the tentative date for their pay-per-view main event, which would likely be held in Las Vegas.

Ortiz nonetheless mentioned Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. as alternatives to facing Ennis next during his post-fight press conference.

Oscar De La Hoya, Ortiz’s promoter, also stated that terms of a deal must favor Ortiz because he is “the champion.” Ennis (WBA) and Ortiz (WBC) both own interim super welterweight titles, but Ennis-Ortiz is one of boxing’s most intriguing matchups even if it’s a non-title fight.

Rick Mirigian, Ortiz’s manager, suggested Sunday on Instagram that Ortiz should box the long-inactive Spence and Ennis should battle another former champ who hasn’t fought in two-plus years, Jermell Charlo, as part of a doubleheader at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) and Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) both sat ringside for Ortiz’s win against Lubin.

Ennis isn’t interested in anyone other than Ortiz next.

“The time is now,” Ennis said. “We're both in our primes. Everybody wanna see it. I’m about to shut all the haters up, cuz that’s what they been doing. And it’s time to have fun, man. I’m about to take over this division, straight like that.”

Ortiz is a draw in the Dallas area, as is Spence, which is why Mirigian suggested it. Ennis is a draw in his hometown as well, but he understands that their fight would be held elsewhere.

“This fight probably will take place in like Vegas or MSG,” Ennis said in reference to Madison Square Garden in New York. “You know, I feel like MSG would be crazy. You know, that’s a staple. Or Vegas, you know, T-Mobile Arena. You know, it don’t matter where this joint at, for real, for real. I just want them to sign that paper and make this fight happen. You know, I’m ready. Like I said, I’m ready to shut everybody up.”