Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ trainer Greg Hackett understands why Terence Crawford doesn’t want to fight Boots at this late stage of his 16-year professional career. He feels that boxing doesn’t care about fighters, and Crawford isn’t going to do it willingly put his neck on the guillotine to face young, unbeaten phenom Boots Ennis (32-0, 29 LOs) to get it cut down.
Hackett believes Ennis would beat the four-division world champion Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) and knock him out. Crawford’s age would put him at the mercy of rising star Boots.
Why Crawford loses to boots
- Crawford’s Age: With 27-year-old Boots Ennis being 10 years younger than 37-year-old Crawford, Hackett believes that will play a big factor in him defeating him. Crawford is like an old car that has a lot of hard street miles. He has been scratched up and worn again, and the engine is putting out blue smoke. In contrast, Ennis rolled off the yard and is in good condition.
- Too focused on defense: As we saw in Crawford’s last fight against Israil Madrimov. His work rate is low due to his focus on his defense, and this will allow the more aggressive, bolder and busier Ennis to outwork him to win a decision. Crawford has always had a low work rate due to his emphasis on his defense. He got away with that style because he never fought major talents at 135, 140 or 147. Against Boots, Crawford would be forced to either increase his output or suffer a one-sided loss. Since he is an older battle, he could not change. As the saying goes, ‘Old dogs can’t learn new tricks,’ which fits perfectly here.
- Boots’ harder work: Ennis’ blue-collar mentality about his fight, pushing himself non-stop would be too much for Crawford, who has a minimalist fighting style.
“I understand that. Do I want to see that fight? Yeah, I want to see that fight, but I understand Bud’s point of view just because I know how boxing doesn’t care about you,” trainer Greg Hackett said. Battle hype on Terence Crawford’s lack of interest in the fight against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Some fans consider Crawford to be selfish for refusing to look Boots in the eye so he could defeat him, take his fur and become the next massive PPV star in boxing. Warriors in the past have more giving by agreeing to face young lions, try their best and come up short. For Crawford to withhold this right of passage is seen as selfish, especially given that he only has one name on his entire resume: Errol Spence.
“In the next five years, we’re going to be talking about a list of other guys. Check out Tim Tszyu. You’re talking about two of the best,” Hackett said of a fight between Crawford and Ennis. “They have both qualities that you need to be a good fighter, and they have multiple qualities that you need to be a good fighter.
“The only real difference is that one of them (Crawford) is ten years older than the other. This is the part that is going to be the most important thing. Will Bud feel that way in certain places? Where Boots will work, Bud will sometimes be on the defensive. Sometimes he will fire back, but it won’t be enough to win. I think the first time Boots will decide and the second time, he will stop Crawford,” says Hackett.
Ennis is busier and much more aggressive than Crawford was during his career. It has nothing to do with Crawford’s age. He has always had a low work rate and was a move-type fighter.
Shakur Stevenson is believed to have used Crawford’s fighting style as a blueprint for his own. That style doesn’t work against busier fighters like Boots, who would hit Crawford with pointed body shots, forcing him to stand up and fight tooth and nail.
