By Chris Williams: Trainer Derek “Bozy” Ennis Sr. says Terence Crawford should fight unbeaten Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next because neither fighter has a scheduled bout right now, and it’s a natural match-up to make.
Bozy says WBO welterweight champion Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) won’t fight the unbeaten #3 IBF, #5 WBA, #5 WBO, #6 WBC, Boots Ennis (26-0, 24 KOs) because he’s waiting on trying to get a “bigger fight.”
Crawford, 34, will sit and wait for the smoke to clear from the Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman vs. Mario Barrios fight on February 5th before looking to schedule against Keith if he wins.
With Crawford having to wait on the outcome for the Thurman-Barrios fight, he’s not expected to return to the ring until June or July to defend against ‘One Time.’
Boots Ennis ready to replace Crawford
It’s a big waste of time for Crawford to sit idle, but on the flip side, if he gives the boxing world the fight that many fans want against the unbeaten phenom Jaron Ennis, he’ll probably lose to the Philadelphia native.
Ennis is the next star in the 147-lb division and is already talented enough to defeat ALL the top welterweights, including Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas.
If Crawford were to agree to face Boots Ennis, it would effectively be a changing of the guard with the young 24-year-old Jaron taking over the #1 spot in the division and Terence being replaced.
Bozy says Crawford should fight Boots next
“I agree with that,” said Bozy Ennis to YSM Sports Media on Terence Crawford should fight ‘Boots’ Ennis next because neither guy has a scheduled fight right now. “That’s what SHOULD be next.
“But then again, I understand what Crawford is trying to do too. He’s trying to get a bigger fight and more money,” said Bozy on why Terence isn’t showing interest in facing the highly ranked unbeaten ‘Boots’ Ennis.
“So, I don’t fault him for that. Porter retired. Everybody is not available to him,” said Bozy when asked WHO should Jaron Ennis fight if he can’t get Crawford to face him.
“Yep, and they’re going to keep pushing too,” said Bozy on the likelihood that boxing fans will continue to push Crawford to face ‘Boots’ Ennis in the coming months.
“But you know boxing. No, I don’t see it happening,” Bozy Ennis said with a look of sad resignation on his face when asked if he sees Crawford facing ‘Boots’ Ennis. “Nah, boxing is something, man.
“It’s all about politics, man. You play a hell of a game, and you know what I mean. Oh yeah, we’ll fight him. Quick, fast, and in a hurry,” said Bozy when asked if Boots would fight Crawford if the option were there.
Ideally, Crawford should fight Boots Ennis, but he knows what time it is. If Crawford takes that fight, Ennis will likely stop him as quickly as he did Thomas Dulorme last October, and Terence’s career would effectively be over.
Crawford starting to show age
As we saw in Crawford’s last fight against the washed Shawn Porter, he’s lost a step, and his reflexes aren’t what they used to be.
Porter was hitting Crawford with shots that he wouldn’t have been hit with ten years ago, but he can no longer get out of the way of them. If Crawford were to face Boots Ennis now, it likely wouldn’t end well for Terence.
An old-school fighter would do the noble thing and face Boots Ennis, but Crawford is a newer generation type of guy. He’s not going to stick his neck out and fight Boots, knowing what the outcome will likely be.
It would be a show of bravery on Crawford’s part to take the fight with Boots Ennis in March and try to pick up the pieces of his career afterward if things fall apart for him.