Eddie Hearn has the pull, now he needs Terence Crawford to boot Ennis into a superstar

Hearn finally built some real traction on American soil, but the job was only half done. To turn Ennis into a bona fide superstar, he needs a signature victory over one of boxing’s modern greats, and there’s no bigger name available than Crawford.

The challenge is to convince Crawford to come back.

The 38-year-old retired earlier this year after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion, ending a career that also included a competitive win over Israil Madrimov. With little left to prove and financial security already in place, Crawford has given no indication he intends to return.

If Hearn wants the one win that could turn Ennis into an overnight star, Crawford is the obvious target.

A win over the undefeated former five-division champion would put Ennis on another level, but that’s also what makes the fight so difficult to make. Ennis represents a very different challenge than the opponents Crawford faced in the closing stages of his career. At 38, he would face a fighter in his athletic prime who combines elite speed, punching power and relentless pressure over 12 rounds.

Hearn has the appeal, but persuading Crawford to risk his undefeated legacy against boxing’s fastest-rising young champion may be the toughest fight he ever tries to make. Until that hurdle is cleared, Ennis’ biggest opportunity to become the sport’s next mainstream superstar remains just out of reach.