Shawn Porter Tells Jaron Ennis to Forget Crawford

Shawn Porter believes Jaron Ennis is wasting his breath trying to lure Terence Crawford out of retirement. Boots may see Crawford as the final obstacle between himself and boxing’s top spot, but Porter does not think Bud needs to prove anything else.

“Boots is ready to take over the boxing world,” Porter said to Fighthype. “He truly thinks he’s the best boxer in the world. He’s gifted enough to be that.

“I think what Bud knows, what we know, is that you still got a little bit of work to do in order to really claim that. For me, Bud is not coming out of retirement. Leave it. Let it go. Don’t even have those conversations.”

Porter’s advice gets to the real issue. Ennis risks looking like an apprentice pursuing the retired master for validation when Vergil Ortiz Jr., Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev remain available at 154 pounds. Beating those fighters would allow Boots to establish his own era.

Financially, Crawford has little incentive to return. He collected enormous purses against Errol Spence Jr. and Canelo Alvarez, while Ennis does not have Canelo’s mainstream drawing power. The younger man presents greater physical danger than most comeback opponents without guaranteeing a comparable payday.

Sugar Ray Leonard’s fight with Terry Norris offers a warning. Leonard possessed superior experience and ring knowledge in 1991, but Norris was younger, faster, and physically sharper. He made Leonard look old. Crawford knows that accepting Ennis at age 38 creates the same kind of issue. Bud would risk his perfect record and standing while Boots would collect everything from one victory.

Weight creates another obstacle. Crawford climbed from junior middleweight to 168 pounds for Canelo and has shown no interest in cutting back to 154. Ennis would likely have to follow him toward middleweight or accept a catchweight before completing his remaining business at junior middleweight.

Inside the ring, Boots is a dangerous opponent for an older Crawford. Bud often uses the opening rounds to measure distance, invite attacks, and study reactions. Ennis brings switch-stance combinations and enough speed to build an early lead while Crawford gathers information.

Porter understands Crawford’s method better than most after fighting him in 2021. His message to Ennis is sensible: quit waiting for a retired fighter and become the king by beating the men who are still competing.