Bakhram Murtazaliev Sends a Chilling Message to Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis After Lima Blowout: “I’m Ready”

Bakhram Murtazaliev responded on social media to Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ victory over Uisma Lima last Saturday night, saying, “I’m ready.”

The IBF junior middleweight champion, Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs), is one of the five names that Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, mentioned that he wants next for him to fight. Hearn is targeting all of the champions, including the interim belt-holder, Vergil Ortiz Jr.

Unfortunately for Bakhram, he’s not the primary target for ‘Boots’ (35-0, 31 KOs) and Hearn. They want Vergil Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs) because he’s better known, more popular, and it would be a bigger fight for pay-per-view. Moreover, it’s arguably an easier one than going up against Murtazaliev, who had a wicked left hook that could cause Ennis a lot of problems.

I’m ready 😉

— Bakhram Murtazaliev (@bakhram95) October 12, 2025

Murtazaliev’s inactivity could be a problem for him. He hasn’t fought since his third-round knockout of former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu on October 19, 2024. All the top fighters and their promoters have shown no interest in fighting him after the way he reduced Tszyu to rubble.

Predictably, Hearn and Ennis will save Murtazaliev for last after they’ve first fought these fighters to round up the belts at 154:

• Vergil Ortiz Jr: WBC interim
• Sebastian Fundora: WBC
• Abass Baraou: WBA
• Xander Zayas: WBO

Last night, ‘Boots’ didn’t have to worry about getting hit that much because he crushed the inexperienced Lima (14-2, 10 KOs) in the first round after dropping him twice at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The ending came with Ennis hitting Lima with a hail of fire, prompting referee Shawn Clark to stop the fight at the 1:58 mark. Lima, 32, had no prior experience against top 154-pound fighters.

The only name fighter on Lima’s resume is Aaron McKenna, a middleweight, and he lost to him by a one-sided 10-round unanimous decision two years ago on June 16, 2023. Hearn was pretty clever in selecting Uisma as the ideal showcase opponent for ‘Boots’ to make his debut against at 154 rather than someone who could give him an actual fight.