Terence Crawford gave welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis a mini-pep discuss on X, making an attempt to cheer him up after his scare in opposition to IBF obligatory Karen Chukhadzhian final Saturday evening in Philadelphia.
Crawford was basically saying that life will probably be brutal and arduous for Boots Ennis when he strikes as much as 154 to start out going through the killers in that weight class, as he talked about eager to do final Saturday evening on the post-fight press convention.
Ennis’ profession might hit all-time low when he takes on gifted fighters at junior middleweight. Sadly, it gained’t be the identical good scenario Boots has had at 147, feasting on non-punchers and fighters with mid-range boxing abilities.
IBF welterweight champion Ennis defeated Chukhadzhian by a 12-round unanimous determination of their rematch, however the battle was greater than he or his followers had anticipated.
Boots Seemed Misplaced & Confused
Ennis had repeatedly mentioned throughout interviews through the battle build-up, “I’m going to have my enjoyable,” and that he could be knocking Chukhadzhian out this time.
It turned out to be a near-disaster for Boots, because it was met with a extra highly effective, aggressive, and gifted model of Chukhadzhian this time that was totally different from the fighter he’d overwhelmed final yr on January seventh.
Ennis and his dad/coach, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, didn’t know what to do. Bozy seemed like a damaged file within the nook, barking, “Simply get him out of there,” however with out giving any sound directions. Bozy was no assist for Boots, however there was actually no recommendation he might give him to assist his scenario.
Ennis was out of his league, combating Chukhadzhian, who possessed technical abilities that he couldn’t take care of. Boots’s coaching throughout his profession was too primary to match a fighter as gifted as Chukhadzhian.
Each had been totally confused, like they’d their senses utterly and didn’t know what to do. The Ukrainian expertise, Chukhadzhian, had Ennis’ recreation all found out, making him seem like a rudimentary fighter all the evening, taking away the group and stealing the present.
Chukhadzhian appeared to have labored on his energy recreation in coaching for the rematch, and he was a very totally different animal this time. Boots wasn’t prepared for this sort of energy, aggression, and expertise from Chukhadzhian, who had schooled him from A to B all evening.
Ennis gained as a result of Chukhadzhian lacked mixture punching, held an excessive amount of, and gave too little floor. In a trilogy match, you’d should favor Chukhadzhian as a result of he would retool his recreation and have all three areas fastened.
Crawford Advises Boots to Work on Craft
The previous four-division world champion Crawford rallied behind the beleaguered Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) after his dreadful efficiency in opposition to Chukadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs) on the Wells Fargo Heart, telling him, “Keep in your mission. By no means get snug.”
Crawford came upon how issues could be a lot totally different for his profession after he moved as much as 154 and barely beat WBA champion Israil Madrimov by a 12-round unanimous determination on August third. How can one drowning man save one other?
Crawford has seemingly misplaced all need to pursue the undisputed championship at 154 after his life-and-death battle in opposition to Madrimov. So, he’s the final one to present Ennis any form of helpless recommendation apart from to warn him about shifting as much as uncharted territory.
Ennis had been calling out Crawford, wanting a battle in opposition to him, however after final evening, nobody would take him critically anymore. He can neglect about that battle perpetually after final evening. Now, it’s extra about Boots saving his profession by deciding which course to go.
Crawford didn’t advise whether or not Ennis ought to keep at 147 or transfer as much as 154 to tackle the sharks in that weight class. In the event you had been to learn between the strains, Crawford’s message means that Ennis ought to keep at 147 and proceed to pad his resume on the mudfish on the backside of the ocean reasonably than go as much as 154.
@JaronEnnis I did see the battle, however I heard about it. Keep centered and preserve working in your craft. Each nights not going to be the identical. By no means get to snug on this recreation, should you making an attempt to get to the mecca of the game. Keep in your mission as a result of all it takes is 1 slip up
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) November 10, 2024
