‘Boots’ Ennis Drops a Clear Warning Amid Call for Terence Crawford Showdown After Welterweight Unification

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Just two days ago, Jaron “Boots” Ennis came off strong against Eimantas Stanionis. Grabbing the win by TKO in the 6th round, the 27-year-old became the WBA and IBF unified welterweight champion. And now? He is wasting no time in eyeing a fight that could redefine the sport. The target? None other than Terence “Bud” Crawford, the pound-for-pound king who had been ruling around the welterweight scene before Ennis started striding forward in his dreams to become the undisputed 147-pound champion. Even the Philadelphia native’s camp isn’t holding back!
Recently speaking to Louis Hart from The Ring Magazine, Eddie Hearn—Boots’ promoter at The Matchroom, declared: “Boots vs. Crawford is the best fight in boxing. Unbelievable fight.” It’s easy to see why he’s so confident. Ennis, now 34-0 with 30 knockouts, isn’t just a technician; he’s an absolute king in the ring, blending finesse with a knockout rate (88.24%) that would make opponents think twice. Hearn’s pitch is simple—this isn’t just a fight; it’s a collision of two of the sport’s sharpest minds. And while Ennis hasn’t been explicit about it, chances are, he thinks the same.
After winning the bout, the newly crowned champion took to his Instagram handle to express his gratitude. “Thanking God for another one,” Ennis wrote. “I couldn’t have done it without him.” With nobody who can say they’ve defeated the boxer, he is on the mind of fans and opponents alike. In fact, Teofimo Lopez Sr., recently spoke in an interview on Punsh Drunk Boxing to reveal how badly the father-son duo wants a fight with Ennis next.

Continuing to extend his thanks, the former amateur Golden Gloves gold medalist continued in the Instagram story, “I APPRETIATE EVERYONE THAT POPPED OUT & SUPPORTED,” making it evident that a champion is not born overnight, and surely not without the support of his fans and loved ones. “WE JUST GETTING STARTED! 34-0,” the boxer went on. Clearly, he’s not yet arrived at his destination, and it seems like he has his next plans laid out too. “30 KOs now. UNIFIED LINEAL CHAMP OF THE WORLD,” Ennis emphasized post his victory.

Then, confidently paving out his mindset for the future, the young fighter wrote, “35-0, 31KOs coming soon,” leaving the internet guessing about who it could be. Could it be Bud Crawford? Well, pros like Floyd Mayweather are thinking the same. “That’d be a helluva (hell-of-a) fight with Boots Ennis. Like we alway say, somebody gotta give you a chance, an opportunity. Somebody gotta give Boots the opportunity and chance, whether it’s Terence or somebody else,” Money said in an interview with FightHype.

But before fans start circling dates on their calendars, there’s a catch—Terence Crawford’s got his own plans, and they don’t exactly align with Ennis’ ambitions.

Will the ring get Terence Crawford-Jaron Ennis anytime soon?

The 37-year-old Omaha native is currently sidelined, nursing a small injury that’ll keep him out until at least May 2025, according to Turki Alalshikh. His Excellency dropped the news on The Ariel x Ade Show on December 3, 2024, adding that Crawford passed on a fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr., preferring to wait out his recovery. That timeline alone pushes any Ennis talk to the back burner.

Then there’s the Canelo Alvarez factor. Crawford’s been vocal about wanting a legacy-defining showdown with the Mexican superstar. Alvarez, who is at 168 pounds, isn’t sold on dropping down to meet Crawford, who’s now settled at 154 pounds after dominating welterweight. Further, Crawford’s reluctance to cut back to 147 pounds—where Ennis rules—only widens the gap. He’s even suggested Ennis might need to “clean out” welterweight and move up to make the fight viable, a stance that’s left Ennis frustrated, reportedly “tired” of the constant Crawford questions.

Crawford’s camp isn’t helping bridge the divide either. His trainer, Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, has downplayed Ennis’ resume, claiming he’s fought “leftovers” and doesn’t bring enough to the table. It’s a jab Ennis countered by pointing out Crawford’s own less-than-stellar opponent choices, like David Avanesyan.

For now, Crawford’s eyes are on bigger weight classes and bigger paydays, leaving Ennis to keep shouting into the void—or prove his case by mowing down more contenders. What do you think? Will Crawford answer Ennis’ calls or keep chasing Canelo? Drop your take below.

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