Signing Two at Once? Hearn Wants the Ennis-Kelly Winner vs. Fundora Inked 'Almost in the Same Process'

Ringcard says ROAD TO UNDISPUTED, and at 154 every lane runs through one very tall man. 🪧

REPORTED. Ennis-Kelly is "virtually there." Eddie Hearn told The Ring: "I mean, we're virtually there to be honest with you." On timing: "So you're looking at the end of January, because we want the right arena and the right slot." Ennis holds the WBA and WBO belts and Kelly holds the IBF.

Kelly's trainer and manager Adam Booth already sounded signed and waiting back on Oct 5. He told The Ring: "It's literally waiting for DAZN to give Matchroom a date." (At the time, Booth said his understanding was "early January". Hearn now says end of January.)

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RUMOR (WARM). The winner vs. Fundora, pre-wired. Hearn, per The Ring: "We're also in talks at the moment with Luis DeCubas Jr. and PBC about the winner fighting Fundora straight off the bat. We're looking to contract that almost in the same process, because that's really what both guys want."

The WBC champ is on board, at least in principle. In a PBC Instagram Live, recapped by Fightnews, Sebastian Fundora said: "I'd like to unify. I want the winner between Jaron Ennis and Josh Kelly. I think that's the best fight in the 154-pound division. I'm ready for whoever."

First, homework: Fundora defends against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj this Saturday, Oct 17, at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas (PBC on TNT/truTV/DAZN).

Catching up? This is the traffic jam that sent Vergil Ortiz Jr. up to 160 (Ringcard Flipped) after the "who ducked who" saga (Duck Season at 154).

Rumor-Meter

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• Ennis vs. Kelly, late Jan 2027 on DAZN: WARM-HOT (REPORTED). Both camps talk like it's done, but there's no date or venue yet.
• Ennis-Kelly winner vs. Fundora for undisputed: WARM (RUMOR). Talks are real, nothing is signed, and Fundora still has to beat Hadribeaj.

📊 Poll: Who leaves 154 as undisputed champ?

• Jaron "Boots" Ennis
• Josh Kelly
• Sebastian Fundora
• Nobody, it falls apart before then

Whisper Update, Oct. 13: the Towering Inferno says yes, too. 🔥 Fundora's line from the PBC Instagram Live is doing the rounds again. Tonight World Boxing News ran it on the Ennis-Kelly winner: "I think that's the best fight in the 154-pound division. I'm ready for whoever." Saturday's homework is still Ermal Hadribeaj, the unbeaten mandatory, on Oct. 17 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Think you know what he's getting paid? The Guess the Purse game for Fundora-Hadribeaj is open until fight night.

Rumor-Meter update: Fundora vs. the Ennis-Kelly winner: COLD. Both sides say they want it, but Fundora has to win Saturday, Ennis and Kelly haven't fought yet, and nothing is signed.

Whisper Update, Oct. 14, evening: Fundora names his spring target, and his venue condition.

REPORTED. Talking to Ariel Helwani, as relayed by Boxing News 24 (boxingnews24.com), Sebastian Fundora said: "I think the winner of Boots and Kelly should be the opponent for our next fight. I think that's early, early maybe springtime of next year, 2027." Asked whether that came from talks or was just his preference: "That's what I want. I think that's what I'll get as well."

On venue: "There's a reason why I haven't fought in Saudi Arabia. I wouldn't feel comfortable, me being an American and everything like that."

That's his stated position, not a rejected offer. BN24 notes he hasn't turned down an actual offer and calls the scenario hypothetical. Nothing is signed. And Saturday's homework comes first: Ermal Hadribeaj on Oct. 17.

Boxer pages: Sebastian Fundora (on Boxbid) and Jaron Ennis (on Boxbid).

Rumor-Meter update (Oct. 14)

• Fundora vs. the Ennis-Kelly winner, spring 2027: WARM (REPORTED). Hearn wants it, Fundora wants it, and it's still unsigned.
• Venue: not Saudi Arabia, by Fundora's own stated position.

Whisper Update, Oct. 16: "50-50 or nothing." 💰

RUMOR (negotiation posture). If Sebastian Fundora gets past Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday, his promoter Sampson Lewkowicz already has his opening number for Jaron Ennis. He told Sean Zittel, as quoted by Boxing News 24 (boxingnews24.com): "It will not be an easy negotiation. It'll be 50-50 or nothing." Fundora was softer: "Of course, there's going to be some sacrifices from both sides, but we're going to get it done." (BN24 on X: x.com)

That's posture, not a deal. Nothing is signed, and Hadribeaj comes first. Got a call for Saturday? Fundora-Hadribeaj is on this week's Boxbid picks card, and picks lock Saturday at 2 PM PT (on Boxbid).

Rumor-Meter update (Oct. 16)

• Lewkowicz's 50-50 demand: WARM. The promoter is on the record.
• Ennis and PBC accepting a 50-50 split: COLD.

Fair split or Fundora pricing himself out? Drop your take in the Boxbid community. 👀

You didn't hear it from me… 🤫

Sources

• The Ring (Manouk Akopyan, Oct 12, 2026)
• The Ring (Hans Themistode, Oct 5, 2026)
• Fightnews (PBC Instagram Live recap)
• FightBook MMA
• Boxing247 (Oct 6, 2026)
• World Boxing News on X (Oct 13, 2026)
• Boxing News 24 (Oct 14, 2026)
• Boxing News 24 (Oct 16, 2026), Lewkowicz 50-50
• Boxing News 24 on X (Oct 16, 2026)