Jaron Ennis wants to prove himself against the very best in and around his weight class. Currently, there’s no doubt that’s Terence Crawford.
‘Boots’ didn’t manage to land the fight before Crawford moved from welter to super-welterweight this year, vacating his undisputed status and thus allowing the 27-year-old from Philly to pick up the IBF title. Regardless of getting the belt, he still wants his shot at the pound-for-pound star and could join him in the 154 ranks in the future to make it happen.
Speaking to FightHype, recently-elevated WBO Welterweight World Champion Brian Norman Jr used his experience of sparring both to make a tentative prediction.
“I can’t really give a firm prediction on it but if I had to pick somebody I’d go with Terence Crawford. Simply because, as you can see they are identical for the most part, switch hitters and things of that nature, but Crawford just been in the game for a longer time. Been in those big fights, a whole lot more bigger fights than Boots. I have to go with Terence Crawford. But on the eye test, [Boots] is right there with Terence.”
Ironically, it now looks like Norman is closing in on a fight with one of the two. Despite Ennis being called to fight his mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian – the man he beat in 2023 for the interim belt – there’s a potential unification on the cards with both teams stating they want to make it happen.
As for Crawford, the people close to him have suggested that he won’t be accepting any opponent other than Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, who has said he will not negotiate until his September 14 contest against Edgar Berlanga is done and dusted.
