Eddie Hearn says he believes he’s got the fighter that can beat Terence Crawford in Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. He’s certain that Ennis will defeat Crawford, as he has the style to beat him.
(Credit: Emma Brawley Matchroom Boxing)
It’s a fight that the Matchroom promoter Hearn says will be “one of the greatest fights of all time.” He doesn’t expect Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) to fight until the end of 2026, if at all. By then, he believes Ennis (35-0, 31 KOs) will have beaten Vergil Ortiz Jr. and possibly Sebastian Fundora as well.
“The Guy to Beat the King”
‘Boots’ Ennis’ popularity will skyrocket after those two victories, creating fan interest in a fight between him and Crawford if the Nebraska native doesn’t retire before then, due to him being set for life with the millions Turki Alalshikh has paid him.
There will certainly be a lot of pressure put on Crawford to face Ennis if he hasn’t retired, as there’s no one at 168 or 160 that can match him in terms of popularity, other than Canelo Alvarez. A rematch between him and Bud is unlikely to happen because the Mexican star won’t want to risk being embarrassed a second time.
“If anyone is going to beat him, I believe we’ve got the guy to beat him,” said Eddie Hearn to TMZ Sport about Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis being the fighter to defeat Terence Crawford.
Many fans believe that Ennis has always had the kryptonite style to beat Crawford because he can do everything he does, but has a much better offensive game. Terence has a single-shot type of punching style compared to Ennis’s rapid-fire approach.
The style Crawford uses is for fighters who move frequently and try to win using the point system. Ennis has a pro style in which he puts his punches together, looking for a knockout.
Hearn’s Vision for 2026
“Crawford is not going to fight until the back end of next year, even if he fights again. That could be one of the greatest fights of all time. And I believe we’ve got the guy who beats the man. And if he wants a real challenge, get ready because ‘Boots’ is coming,” said Hearn.
Dan Ambrose has written on boxing since 2011, cutting through hype with blunt ringside truth.