Commentator Tim Bradley wants Terence Crawford to take on Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. It’s a big fight that will provide Crawford with a nice payday, and it’s a matchup that makes sense if he can’t get the mega-fight against Canelo Alvarez that he’s asking for.
Bradley wants Crawford to come down from the clouds, stop chasing Canelo and begging for a fight, and take what’s in front of him against Boots. Yes, it won’t bring in the same cash as a fight against Canelo; he will never get that fight.
It doesn’t look like His Excellency Turki Alalshikh will be able to deliver the Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) fight that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is asking him to bring. There is no one else who can fight Crawford at or near his weight class that fans are as interested in seeing as him and Ennis. Aside from Canelo and Boots, the only guys fans would be interested in seeing Crawford fight are these guys:
– David Benavidez
– Arthur Beterbiev
– Dmitry Bivol
–David Morrell
Crawford’s risk aversion
Fans will be excited to see Crawford fight killers against whom he would be the underdog, as it would put him in a position where he would have to fight above his level to avoid losing. Unfortunately, Crawford would never fight either of them, just as he would never face Boots Ennis. He is not a risk taker.
Crawford is just a guy looking for one last fight against Canelo for big money and is essentially already retired. He never fought anyone but a wrecked Errol Spence in his career, which the fans cared about. Fans won’t be able to name the 40 other fighters Crawford fought during his career, especially the champions.
“I hear you Bud and the Canelo fight is a dream fight of yours. However, there is a guy right around your weight class who is similar to Canelo and Benavidez. You hold two titles in the welterweight division,” commentator Tim Bradley told Cigar Talk on Xtalks about Terence Crawford having to fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis since he can’t get the Canelo fight he’s been pushing for.
Bradley says that Crawford needs to get out of his dream world and stop with his hopeless vision of a fight he doesn’t deserve. He needs to take the fight right there in front of him against Boots, which will pay well and earn Crawford respect from fans if he prevails.
“I know they say, ‘He was supposed to fight Spence the second time.’ He didn’t end up fighting Spence,’ and he had an option,” Bradley said. “Boots had an option. Boots has been calling him (Crawford) out for the longest time. So, if I were in Bud’s position, this is what I would say. “Okay, young blood wants it. Okay, no problem. He’s going to take it. That’s what he gets.’
“If Boots takes it and Bud gets the big end of the stick, 90% (against) 10%, if Boots wants that action, there you go. Let’s get it. But 14,000 seats were sold in Philly (for Boots Ennis vs. David Avanesyan on July 13). Omaha is not too far away. They may have a meeting point in New York at Madison Square Garden. That fight is going to sell. I’m telling you,” Bradley said of the Crawford vs. Ennis battle.
Crawford-Boots will definitely sell. It wouldn’t be as big a payday for Crawford as a fight against Canelo, but he’s not getting that matchup. So, he has to put that idea out of his mind and focus on what is available, and that is Boots.
“Everybody’s going to come out and watch this fight because Boots is supposed to be the next coming,” Bradley said. “When Bud’s out the door, when he’s gone, Boots is supposed to be that guy. Boots is trying to set himself up with Bud because he knows that Bud is going to leave the game, and he believes he can beat him.”
The basic problem here is that Crawford seems worried about what might happen if he fights Boots Ennis and gets beaten. Crawford, 36, looked dull and old against Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3, and it’s clear that age is starting to show. I don’t know if it’s age, but Crawford finally faced someone with decent ability for a change.
The “Cakewalk” Challenge
“His team really believes they can beat him. Now you have everyone making excuses and saying Boots isn’t ready, and you’re judging him by his last fight (against David Avanesyan). If Boots isn’t ready, then it should be cake for Crawford, right? It should be. Then Crawford has to stand up and face him,” Bradley said.
It’s clear that Crawford and his team don’t believe they can beat Boots because if they thought they could they would have fought him instead of Madrimov, Spence, David Avanesyan and Shawn Porter.
“It’s another paycheck. If it’s that easy, step up and fight him if it’s that easy,” Bradley said of Crawford fighting Ennis.
