By Allan Fox: Ronald Ellis says his brother Rashidi Ellis and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis won’t be given the green light to fight anytime soon. Ronald states that now that Rashidi (24-0, 15 KOs) is signed with PBC, they’re not going to let him fight Boots (29-0, 27 KOs) yet.
Rashidi fights Roiman Villa (25-1, 24 KOs) tonight in an IBF welterweight title eliminator on Showtime PPV at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Some believe that if Rashidi and Boots Ennis win their fights tonight, they’ll be matched against each other next for the IBF title if Errol Spence vacates it.
At 29, Rashidi needs to step it up against upper tier world-class opposition because he’s been toiling away in obscurity for his entire 10-year professional career, facing weak opponents while promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.
“He flipped that switch. I told him, he can’t f**k up the money,” said Ronald Ellis to Fighthype about the argument his brother Rashidi Ellis had with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis during Thursday’s final press conference.
“I like it. They both have speed, but little bro, he’s fast as s**t,” said Ellis when asked how Jaron Ellis would do against Rashidi. “He’s doing his thing, and when he wants to sit down and he sits down.
“I think it’ll be a great fight. They got to fight each other. It’ll come down to who is faster, who can take a better shot because they’re both going to get in there. They’re both dogs, fighting each other.
“That’s good for boxing. People want to see young lions clash. They’re both great fighters. They got to get it done. Truthfully? No,” said Ellis when asked if he sees Boots & Rashidi fighting next after tonight’s contest. “I don’t think so. The only way I see it happening is if they have something big on the line.
“They just signed with PBC, and I don’t think they’re going to move them that fast. I would like to see it happen next. I’m pretty sure that little bro and Boots say he wants it.
“It depends. The people want it, but it depends on how business goes. They’re going to milk that fight for as long as possible.
“He’s a great fighter; I like him,” said Ronald when asked what he thinks of Jaron Ennis. “He’s a solid fighter, he does what he got to do, and he’s great for the sport.
“Truthfully, he’s a dog, but he’s got to show me a little bit more. Yeah, yeah,” said Ellis when asked if they were overflowing Boots Ennis. “I think they’re giving him the right opponents at the right time.
“They’re feeding him the right people, and he’s walking over them as he should. It’s not his fault. He’s talking like he is, but you’re going to have to show it,” said Ellis about Boots Ennis talking like he’s ready for Spence.
“Truthfully, it’s different levels. He can wait a little longer. He can fight Rashidi, and whoever wins that can fight Spence if they want to take it down that road.
“He’s been in the game with the other promotion [Golden Boy]. Now, he’s up and running,” said Ronald when asked how long before his 29-year-old brother Rashidi gets a title shot. “What is he, 25-0?
“He’s just got to set the table and do what he got to do, and I want him knocking on that door by the end of this year.
“I got to go with Crawford or Spence. It’s 50-50,” said Ellis when asked who he feels is the best welterweight in the division. “I like both of them. I’m going to go with Crawford, but Errol’s a dog.
“I thought he looked good,” said Ronald about Crawford’s last performance against David Avanesyan on December 10th. “He knew what he had in front of him. He was pacing himself the whole time.
“He was setting up his punches, and he walked him into that s**t. He knew what he was doing the whole time.