Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis says he will capture the No. 1 spot pound-for-pound in “one or two fights.” If this prediction comes true, he should have a win over Terence Crawford or a couple of the top 154 pounds, like Bakhram Murtazaliev.
The fastest way for Ennis to take the #1 spot would be to defeat Crawford, but since the Nebraska native has no interest in fighting, he doesn’t have that option. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh could make the fight happen if he offered Crawford a lot of money, but it would be too expensive to make it worth pursuing.
If Boots is going to quickly capture the No. 1 spot pound-for-pound, he needs to light a fire under his promoter Eddie Hearn’s backside to match him against names big enough to get there. Hearn will not be able to help Boots by coming up with the necessary dough to fight all the champions at 147.
The reality is that Ennis will probably have three to five years to become No. 1 pound for pound, given his dogged insistence on unifying the welterweight division before moving up to 154 to start facing talented opposition.
If Ennis was brave and willing to take risks with his career now, he would need to immediately move to 154 and fight these types of killers to capture the #1 P4P spot:
– Bakhram Murtazaliev
– Vergil Ortiz Jr.
– Sebastian Fundora
– Israel Madrimov
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Tim Tszyu
– Charles Conwell
– Erickson Lubin
Boots Ennis needs to move up to 154 for his next two fights because the 147-lb division lacks talented fighters known to the boxing public.
Even if Ennis were to capture the remaining three titles by defeating champions Eimantas Stanionis, Brian Norman Jr., and Mario Barrios, there is no chance of him taking the #1 P4P spot because those are belts that were maneuvered for win those titles from their promoters.
Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) turns his wheels at 147, defending his IBF welterweight title against Karek Chukhadzhian in a rematch on November 9. Boots, 27, already beat Chukhadzhan last year in January by a wide unanimous decision 12 times, and the fans have no interest in this match.
“My main goal was to get these belts. I’m pushing hard to get these belts to be undisputed or at least unified. That was my goal. These things fell, and I had to fight my mandatory “, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis told Ariel Helwani channell, talking about his disappointment to face Karen Chukhadzhian in a rematch on November 9.
“As long as I fight and keep busy, that’s all. Those belts are coming. I’m going to get those belts next year,” Ennis said about the welterweight belts. “I had to fight my mandate. This time I will beat it easier and better.
“It’s a blessing to have him on the card. He’s a top-five pound for pound. I’m happy to have him on my card. Me and him together, we’re going to make fireworks,” said Boots about having WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in his co-feature against Pedro Guevara.
“The card will be crazy. There are a lot of great fighters coming on the card. I hope, it’s true. I asked for them fights,” Ennis said when asked if he believes he will have a chance to fight Terence Crawford. “You ask him. I’m tired of answering this question many times.
“When it’s my turn, and I’m going to fight a young lion, I’m definitely going to give him a chance. Eddie (Hearn) has a mouth. He’s going to do all the talking for you. You don’t have to say anything. He’s going to tell us all that has to be said.
“All you have to do is sit down and fight and do what you have to do. It’s a win,” said Ennis whose promoter Eddie Hearn did all the work of marketing his fights doing all the talking.
“One or two fights,” said Boots Ennis when asked how long before he claims the No. 1 spot pound for pound. “I’m right here. I just need that name, that’s all.”
