Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis says he wants to fight superstar Terence Crawford, but he’s not doing anything to make it happen. Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) opted to stay in his safe spot at 147 and defend the IBF bantamweight title against little-known fighters rather than move up to 154 to position himself for the big prize win, a fight against Crawford.
Boots would rather play it safe and defend his belt against fighters like Karen Chukhadzhian than move up to force a fight against Crawford. Look at it this way: Boots has made a nice living, making millions going against no-names in the landfill at 147, and he doesn’t have to worry about being exposed by Crawford or the many talents at 154.
Ennis could have already boxed Crawford by moving up to 154 and beating one of these fighters:
– Sebastian Fundora
– Bakhram Murtazaliev
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Tim Tszyu
– Vergil Ortiz Jr
Boat Ennis’s lack of initiative making the Crawford fight happen makes it clear that he wants no part in fighting Crawford because he could potentially destroy his career.
It’s a risky fight for Ennis, 27, because if he loses to Crawford, the good paychecks he’s currently getting for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom will dry up. He will be just one of the many contenders at 154, trying to get fights against the top fighters.
Hearn won’t keep up with Ennis if he gets beaten by Crawford and is shown as a hype job, which some fans already see him as.
To be part of Hearn’s prestigious Matchroom team, you have to produce, take risks and show that you belong in his company. So far, Ennis hasn’t lived up to the promise and isn’t showing the guts needed to become a star by moving up to 154 to force a fight with Crawford, the other killers in that weight class.
Boots doesn’t have the personality to be a star outside of the ring. He has to become a star by beating the best, and he’s not trying to fight those kinds of fighters. Hearn was going to find out sooner or later Ennis is a dead end and lacks the ambition to make more of himself in his career.
“Hopefully it’s true. As I said. I’ve asked for that fight before, and I’m tired of answering the same questions. Go ask him everyone! I said yes many times; I’m tired of answering,” Boots Ennis told Ariel Helwani’s channel when asked if it was true or false that he would fight Terence Crawford at some point in his career.
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