Trainer Stephen Edwards says the fighters now want to face Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis because they have seen what Karen Chukhadzhian has done for him in their two fights and feel they can exploit the holes in his game.
Chukhadzhian Exposed Boots
Stephen thinks Boots (33-0, 29 KOs) is “too bloody” because he’s always looking for knockouts, which makes him vulnerable in his fights. We saw that in Ennis’ two fights against Chukhadzhian, David Avanesyan and Roiman Villa. He was below average in those fights and got hit a lot.
Edwards feels that if Boots can change his fighting style to implement more boxing, he will be fine. However, he is trained by his father, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, and is known to push his fighters to be more aggressive, going on the attack, trying to score knockouts.
It is unlikely that Bozy Ennis will make his son change his fighting style to be less aggressive because that is not the approach he teaches. We saw how Bozy pushed 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz to be more aggressive in his last fight against Antonio Moran, and he was defeated earlier.
If Cruz had just used his normal fighting style, he would have schooled Moran without this guy putting a glove on him, but he was pushed to pressure the bigger fighter.
“Teofimo Lopez is a special talent, but I don’t know how he will look at 147 pounds. He is a little short (5’8″),” said coach Stephen Edwards to YSM Sports Media when asked how Teofimo Lopez would do if he moved up to welterweight to take on the lions in that weight class.
“He’s kind of hot and cool. I think he struggled against Jamaine Ortiz and the other guy (Sandor Martin?), and then he looked good against Josh Taylor. So, it’s hard to tell with a guy so. I think he will do well under (trainer) Eddy Reynoso kind of do well with guys with his body type.
“He did well with Oscar Valdez and he did well with Canelo Alvarez. So, waiting for him to do well with Eddy Reynoso. I think he (Teofimo) could beat (WBC welterweight champion Mario) Barrios. I like Barrios. He’s not nothing personal against him, but he’s had some tough fights. He’s probably not as physically gifted as the other guys.”
Teofimo at Welterweight
The size is not the problem that Teofimo would have if he moved and fought welterweights. It’s more of a case of Teofimo lacking ring IQ, unable to handle pressure well, and having a bad habit of fighting with his back against the ropes. He mostly got away with his poor ring IQ due to his size at 140 and 135. But if he moved to 147, he wouldn’t have his size to help him, and he could be fodder for almost any welterweight .
“So, I think Teofimo could beat Barrios, but I don’t know how he would do against the other guys,” Stephen said. “There’s been talk of fighting Brian Norman, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen, but I’m looking forward to that fight. That would have been a good fight.
“I think Boots is too big for Teofimo Lopez. The Jamaine Ortiz fight. If Boots jammed him and used his jab, he would be too big for him. I think guys want to fight Boots now because of the two decisions with Karen (Chukhadzhian). He fights with a kind of bloodthirsty style, trying to knock everyone out, and they see some holes in it,” Stephen said about Ennis.
Boots would have too much ability for Teofimo if they fought, and it would not be a good matchup for Teo. That’s not to say he wouldn’t have his moments and potentially win. He would do well at times, but it would be a really tough fight for him.
“In boxing, they see a flaw. All a fighter has to do is fight a fight, and everyone wants to fight. I feel that these things could be corrected if he just goes back to his boxing. I think that Teofimo is a little too small for Boots,” said Stephen.
