Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, acquired horrible information final week: The IBF has mandated that he defend towards his welterweight contender, Karen Chukhadzhian, in a rematch that can eat up the remaining combat for the Philadelphia native this 12 months.
Boot’s aim of staying at 147 lengthy sufficient to grow to be an undisputed champion would require extra time than he can afford, stall his profession, and harm his money-making potential.
Boots should overlook about capturing the 147-lb belts and transfer as much as 154 to hunt higher alternatives. If he or his promoter, Hearn, is frightened about his capacity to thrive at 154, they will purpose low, goal the simple marks on the underside rung of the division, and look ahead to the blokes on the high to age.
Crawford’s Disinterest
Terence Crawford, 36, gained’t be round an excessive amount of longer, and he’s already stated many instances that he has zero curiosity in preventing Boots.
So, if the concern is for Ennis and his workforce that they is likely to be pressured to combat Crawford in the event that they transfer as much as 154, they needn’t fear as a result of he’s specializing in the massive recreation, not the ambition-less small fries that lack initiative.
Crawford is aware of Boots can’t draw, so he desires nothing to do with him. He’s undeserving of his curiosity, and he’s doing nothing to extend his reputation by staying at 147. Boots’ choice to remain at welterweight proves that he’ll by no means be within the Crawford league. The 2 have totally different mindsets. Crawford is a risk-taker, whereas Boots performs it secure, avoiding the killers.
It’s now silly for Ennis to remain at welterweight as a result of he gained’t get the three fights he wants towards the three belt-holders to grow to be the undisputed champion.
With out His Excellency Turki Alalshikh lending a serving to hand to throw cash at WBC champ Mario Barrios, WBA champ Eimantis Stanionis, and WBO champ Brian Norman Jr, Boots may take years to get these fights.
Staying at 147: A Signal of Weak point
He could be no higher off popularity-wise than he’s now. Boots would most likely be worse off as a result of these fights would go beneath the radar with informal boxing followers, and he could be in his 30s by the point he completes the roles.
Ennis already defeated Chukhadzhian final 12 months by a 12-round unanimous choice with a set of 120-x 3 scores in one in every of Boot’s worst performances of his profession. The combat was unwatchable due to its dullness.
Hearn spoke of creating a proposal to WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for a unification combat with Boots. Nevertheless, that supply is reportedly not practically sufficient to entice Barrios, and Hearn should enhance the quantity or hand over and deal with Ennis’ necessary Chukhadzhian.
“I’m not over the moon about it. We need to make the most important fights on the market, unification fights,” stated Hearn, reacting to the IBF ordering Boots Ennis to defend his title towards Chukhadzhian in a rematch.
