By Adam Baskin: Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will be ready go deep sea fishing to capture the biggest prize fish Errol Spence Jr next if he successfully defeats Karen Chukhadzhian (21-1, 11 KOs) this Saturday, January 7th, in their battle for the vacant interim IBF welterweight title.
Jaron Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) needs the available interim IBF 147-lb title as the best fishing bait to catch the big fish Spence (28-0, 22 KOs). The IBF interim strap is the right size hook to catch Spence or at least trap him so that Boots can net him effortlessly.
Spence is expected to try and throw the hook and make a run for it by fleeing to safe waters at 154 to avoid getting reeled in by Boots Ennis.
If he does that, it will be a bad look, and it could hurt what’s left of his already diminishing popularity.
Spence has been so inactive in the last four years due to injuries, idleness, and enjoying the fruits of his labor that it’s caused him to be forgotten by boxing fans.
As the saying goes, ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ Errol and Keith Thurman share something in common, as they’re both trapped by the forces of inertia and unable to break free from the pull of gravity that keeps them nailed to their chairs, unable to return to the ring.
“It’s not hard to be the next guy up. I just have to stay focused and do what I do. I know my time is coming real soon. It’s that simple,” said Jaron Ennis.
It’s not easy being the young lion that is coming to rip away the titles from two champions, who no longer are active, and holding up the division in a state of paralysis by sitting on the titles and keeping them hostage.
You can argue that if the sanctioning bodies were working correctly, the titles would have been stripped away from Spence and Terence Crawford long ago.
“I know Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are holding up the division right now, but whatever way I can get my hands on the belts, I’ll be ready,” said Ennis. “I just want to fight. I’m young, and hungry, and I’m going to keep shining and demolishing these guys they put in front of me.
“I know Spence says he’s the ‘big fish,’ but we like to go fishing,” said Ennis.
