Eddie Hearn says Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will scratch his plans to unify the 147-lb division if the Terence Crawford combat is delivered subsequent by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Hearn’s Facetime with Alalshikh
The Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with Alalshikh by Facetime moments after ‘Boots’ Ennis’ systematic fifth-round destruction of substitute challenger David Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 KOs) final Saturday night time on the Wells Fargo Heart in Philadelphia.
Hearn says His Excellency is serious about making the Crawford vs. Boots Ennis combat subsequent if the Canelo Alvarez conflict doesn’t occur for Terence within the first quarter of 2025. That combat doesn’t appear possible, Hearn says, for 2 causes:
- Crawford will lose to Israil Madrimov on August third
- Famous person Canelo Alvarez isn’t serious about preventing Crawford. It’s a no-win kind of combat for Alvarez, the place he gained’t obtain any credit score for beating the ageing fighter.
Monetary Incentive for Crawford
The cash will likely be there for Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) to combat Boots Ennis, however it’s one which he very possible will lose. Getting overwhelmed by Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) would tarnish Crawford’s legacy, reinforcing the assumption that he was at all times overrated by followers for wins over B-level fighters within the three divisions he gained world titles.
In different phrases, Crawford is Adrien Broner 2.0, a fighter who captured world titles in a number of weight divisions however by no means fought any of the killers.
“His Excellency watched the combat, and he needed to have a fast phrase with Boots. He mentioned if there’s no Canelo combat, he desires to make Boots vs. Crawford. ‘Would we do it?’ The reply is, in fact,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn to iFL TV, speaking concerning the Facetime dialogue he had with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh final Saturday night time following Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’s spherical stoppage win over David Avanesyan.
It’s a no brainer for Boots Ennis to combat Crawford subsequent as a result of it’s a a lot greater match for him than in opposition to any of the little-known champions within the welterweight division. With Crawford getting older and preventing solely annually, Boots might not get the possibility to combat him till 2026 if it doesn’t occur in 2025.
Crawford desires the Canelo payday; if that combat occurs, it is going to be in early 2025. After that match, Terence will possible sit inactive for 1+ years earlier than rising in 2026 for a possible combat with Boots or, extra possible, a rematch with Canelo if His Excellency will give it to him.
“The plan is to unify at 147, however that combat [Crawford-Ennis] is likely one of the largest fights within the sport, and it’s such an excellent combat. You see a man like Jaron Ennis, who has been out for a yr. He was actually dissatisfied in his efficiency. I’m not being humorous. He was taking part in with him, and to play with a fighter like Avanesyan reveals his capacity,” Hearn mentioned about Boots.
