Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis says he wants to fight the superstar Terence Crawford, yet he’s doing nothing to make that happen. Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) has chosen to stay at 147 in his safe spot, defending the IBF email title against little-known fighters rather than move up to 154 to position himself to land the big prize, a fight against Crawford.
Boots would rather play it safe, defending his belt against fighters like Karen Chukhadzhian, than move up to force a fight against Crawford. Look at it this way: Boots has carved out a nice existence, making millions fighting no-names in the landfill dump at 147, and he doesn’t have to worry about getting exposed by Crawford or the many talents at 154.
Ennis could have already boxed Crawford in by moving up 154 and beating one of these fighters:
– Sebastian Fundora
– Bakhram Murtazaliev
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Tim Tszyu
– Vergil Ortiz Jr
Boot Ennis’s lack of initiative in making the Crawford fight happen makes it clear that he wants no part of fighting Crawford because he can potentially wreck his career.
It’s a risky fight for Ennis, 27, because if he loses to Crawford, the nice paychecks he’s getting now fighting for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom will dry up. He’ll be just one of the many contenders at 154, trying to land fights against the top-rung fighters.
Hearn won’t keep Ennis around if he’s beaten by Crawford and shown to be a hype job, which some fans already view him as.
To be part of Hearn’s prestigious Matchroom squad, you’ve got to produce, take risks, and show that you belong with his company. Thus far, Ennis hasn’t fulfilled the promise and isn’t showing the courage 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’s got to become a star by beating the best, and he’s not trying to fight those kinds of fighters. Hearn is going to figure it out sooner or later that Ennis is a deadbeat and lacks the ambition to make more of himself in his career.
“Hopefully it’s true. Like I said. I’ve been asking for that fight, and I’m tired of answering those same questions. Y’all go ask him! I said yes plenty of times; I’m tired of answering,” said Boots Ennis to Ariel Helwani’s channel when asked if it’s true or false that he’ll fight Terence Crawford at some point in his career.
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