Fans React As Canelo Alvarez Spars Jaron Ennis – ‘Woooow'

Canelo Alvarez sparred Jaron Ennis ahead of his Undisputed Super Middleweight fight against Terence Crawford on September 13. 

Canelo is the undisputed champion having achieved the feat for the second time by beating William Scull in his previous bout. Canelo is the favorite since he is a seasoned 168-pounder, who has also boxed and won a world title at 175 pounds. Ennis, the former unified welterweight champion, is arguably the closest person available who could mirror Crawford.

The Reasoning

The most critical reason Ennis is the perfect sparring partner is his ability to switch stances. Crawford often switches mid-combinations to confuse and overwhelm opponents. This is not just a stylistic exercise; it’s a mental one. Canelo will be forced to constantly adjust his own footwork, timing, and defensive guard to account for the shifting angles and power shots.

Both Ennis and Crawford are known for their exceptional boxing IQ, speed, and knockout power, especially when fighting at a smaller weight class. Ennis can also test Canelo’s chin with a power that’s likely more than what he’ll face on fight night. The speed of Ennis will force Canelo to tighten up his defense and be more alert to incoming punches. For example, Canelo’s signature counter left hook is dependent on his opponent’s timing. Sparring with a fighter as quick and adaptable as Ennis will force Canelo to perfect his timing.

A sparring partner like Ennis also serves as a crucial psychological test. Ennis, at 28, is at the peak of his physical prime and has an undefeated record with a high knockout percentage. While Crawford is not at the latter end of his career at 37, he has not taken a lot of punishment. Crawford may not be the most active fighter, but it does keep him fresh for this fight.

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