Jaron Ennis: Can ‘Boots’ Rival Terence Crawford As The King At Welterweight?
When Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis signed to Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn was almost giddy in his reaction to securing the signature of a fighter he believes is among the best in the world.
“Wow – What a signing!” said Hearn in April. “I’ve watched this young man for many years, and I always believed he would become a pound-for-pound great, and I have no doubt he is already the greatest fighter in the division.
“Jaron has everything needed to become a household name both in the sport and in the sporting hotbed of his Philadelphia hometown.”
It’s no surprise that Hearn, one of the world’s leading promoters, has been effusive in his praise for a fighter who, after Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor, could become the biggest star in his stable. He’s certainly the most high-profile American signed to Matchroom, and Hearn will hope Ennis can help correct his inconsistent record with boxers from the United States.
There’s also no escaping the increasing hype that surrounds Ennis, who at 26 years old, is being touted as both the present and future of the welterweight division – and not only by his own promoter.
Ennis Ends Absence Against Avanesyan
Ennis (31-0-0 28 KO) ends a full year absence when he returns to the ring next month for the first defense of his IBF welterweight title against former European champion David Avanesyan, a replacement for the injured Cody Crowley.
Boots’ last fight was a dominant 10th-round stoppage of Roiman Villa last July to retain the IBF interim title. He was later elevated to full champion status when Terence Crawford was forced to relinquish the belt.
It means Ennis, despite being a world champion and a fighter touted for superstardom, still has plenty to prove. That’s always the case for champions who get elevated instead of winning the belt in the ring.
With all due respect to Avanesyan – a capable, strong, and brave fighter – Ennis is still searching for that marquee opponent to showcase his skills at the pinnacle level, and ultimately prove that the hype is real.
After his masterclass against Villa, Ennis was quick to call out the winner of Crawford’s undisputed title bout with Errol Spence Jr, which took place a few weeks later.
Crawford The Ultimate Test At Welterweight
“We got to wait for Errol Spence and Bud [Terence Crawford] to fight and you know I want the winner of that,” the Philadelphia native said.
We all know how that fight ended and Crawford’s masterclass made him the undisputed king of the welterweight division. Yet, there has been a frustrating lack of activity over the past 12 months at the top end of one of boxing’s glamour divisions.
Crawford has since relinquished two of his four belts – the WBC has gone to Mario Barrios, who like Ennis was elevated from interim status – and will make his return up at 154lbs, where on August 3 he will aim to become a four-weight world champion against WBA title holder Israil Madrimov.
Whether Crawford views his future at welterweight or super-welterweight is unclear, but Bud remains the yardstick against whom all fighters aiming to succeed at 147lbs are measured.
Aside from the opportunity to pursue a world title in a fourth division, it was the lack of viable immediate options at welterweight – the profile of fighters who would generate mega-money paydays – that led Crawford to making the next step up.
The plan and expectation is for Ennis to be that next fighter. With his eye-catching style combining slick skills, fast hands, and knockout power, Boots has all the tools to become a box office star.
Ennis Seeks Big Fight
Still, he needs that big fight, and there is no bigger ‘big fight’ than Crawford, which seems more likely than ever to be both fighters’ next challenge.
The timing works, with Ennis and Crawford fighting within two weeks of each other. But it’s the involvement of Hearn and Saudi Arabian boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh in their respective careers that raises optimism.
Alalshikh has taken a leading role in Crawford’s career – Bud’s next fight headlines the first ‘Riyadh Season’ show in the United States – and he has worked closely with Hearn on many events in Saudi Arabia. Backed by Saudi money, it would make sense for Hearn and Alalshikh to come together to organize the biggest possible fight at welterweight.
Before any of that, though, Ennis must make a statement on his return. Avanesyan was outclassed and knocked out by Crawford in December 2022, so Boots will need a similarly impressive performance in his homecoming fight.
Should he achieve that and earn a unification bout with Crawford, Ennis will finally get the opportunity to prove that he can be the new king of the welterweight division.
