Norman also would understand if Ennis abandoned his plan to become undisputed champion in their division for a
more lucrative fight with Teofimo Lopez. Negotiations are ongoing between handlers for Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs, 1 NC), the Ring/IBF/WBA welterweight champ, to oppose Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs), the Ring/WBO junior welterweight champ, in a high-profile fight Turki Alalshikh proposed.
“Regarding him taking the fight,” Norman
told The Ring, “I won’t look at it bad, and this is the main reason why — we talking about Turki. We all know Turki be paying. So, let’s just say he get paid $20 million, $15 million, whatever he get just to fight Teo, I would tell him, ‘Boy, you better go and take that money, [or else] I’m gonna do it.’ I wouldn’t be mad at him at all.”
Norman and his team declined an offer recently from Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ promoter, to sign a contract to face him in October or November because they want the unbeaten WBO welterweight champion to fully focus on his next opponent. The 24-year-old Norman (27-0, 21 KOs, 1 NC), of Conyers, Georgia, is scheduled to make his second defense of the WBO 147-pound championship vs. Japan’s Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) on June 19 in a main event ESPN+ will stream from Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
If Ennis-Lopez talks don’t result in them signing contracts to box next, Norman is willing to face either fighter after Sasaki. Lopez and Norman are promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.
“I want both of them, to be real with you,” Norman said. “Of course, them two, they’re talking to each other, but shoot, I’m a champion as well, Teo. Let’s make this thing happen. And if Boots should want to be undisputed, I’m still right here and I got a belt as well. I don’t care. I’ll literally fight anybody. I love to throw hands.”
Norman emphasized that talk of him fighting Lopez shouldn’t be misinterpreted as not wanting to face Philadelphia’s Ennis. Hearn criticized Norman and his handlers for passing on a compensation package of approximately $1.7 million to box Ennis on Nov. 9 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Ennis and his team hope his next fight takes place at that venue, home of the NBA’s Sixers and NHL’s Flyers. Norman is open to boxing in Ennis’ hometown, as long as he is compensated properly.
“It’s very, very, very possible,” Norman said. “I can’t guarantee that just yet, but of course, me and Ennis are definitely on a collision course. So, that fight will definitely happen in the future.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing