The unified welterweight champion, 27, recently announced he would be moving up a weight class from 147 lbs to 154 lbs in search of bigger fights, and Mora, 44, has now suggested Ennis should set up a clash with the former WBA junior middleweight champion, 30.

Speaking on Chris Mannix’s YouTube channel, Mora said: “I think he can send a big message to the entire junior middleweight division if he goes after Israel Madrimov, a guy that almost beat Vergil Ortiz Jr. It was 115-113 on two judges’ scorecards.

“He gave [Terence] Crawford a handful where two judges had it 115-113. I think if [Ennis] can move up and actually beat and even stop a fighter like Madrimov that has never been stopped before, he can send a message and all eyes will be on him.”

While Mora admitted beating Madrimov would be “something difficult to do”, he insisted Ennis “has the power” to defeat the former WBA junior middleweight champion.

He added: “I think Madrimov makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons.”


By moving up to junior middleweight, Ennis will be vacating his IBF and WBA welterweight titles.

However, the boxer - who dropped and stopped Eimantas Stanionis in the sixth round in their explosive match in April - has insisted the junior middleweight class is “where they say the smoke [is] at”.

He told YMS Sports Media: “After that last performance every fight I have to have a crazy performance, an explosive performance every time out, and that’s what I want to give you guys.

“So I think ‘54 is where I’m going to do it at and this is where they say the smoke at so, I’m here now. Let’s make it happen, let’s get it poppin’.”