IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis told challenger Cody Crowley he’s in for a “beating” on July 13th when they meet in the headliner at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
(Photo credit: Andrew Maclean/Matchroom)
Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) is returning home for his mandatory defense of his IBF belt against Crowley (22-0, 9 KOs). This is his first title defense, which was given after the previous champion, Terence Crawford, chose not to defend against him.
The idea behind Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn bringing him home for this fight is that it’s not a big enough one to sell in Las Vegas or New York because the Canadian Crowley isn’t a well-known fighter in the U.S.
Boots Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia is the only place a fight between him and the little-known 31-year-old Crowley would sell. According to Hearn, tickets are selling fast, and he expects it to be a sell-out well before July 13th.
Ennis’ Warning to Crowley
“Keep talking and he’s going to get the worst beating of his life. I promise you that. We can make a bet or whatever. Look, I’m glad you accepted the fight,” said Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, talking to his opponent, Cody Crowley, during today’s kick-off press conference for their fight on July 13th in Philadelphia.
If everything goes well for Boots, he could be fighting WBC champion Mario Barrios next in a unification fight. Boots needs to beat Crowley and look good on July 13th. Hearn believes he can get Barrios or WBA champion Eimants Stanionis to agree to fight him if the money is right.
“Jaron Ennis is a star. I like this kid, Cody Crowley. He’s 22-0. He won’t be good enough on the night, but he’ll be bringing it.” promoter Hearn asked the media about ‘Boots’ Ennis’ fight against Crowley.
“He’s [Ennis] has got to win these titles at 147, and then he’s got to go and fight Terence Crawford if Crawford can come through Madrimov. Every day that passes, I still think to myself, ‘Madrimov is going to flatten Terence Crawford on August 3rd in Los Angeles.
It’s still a little early for Hearn to be talking about putting a fight together between Boots Ennis and Terence Crawford. Ennis still needs to beat Crowley and defeat Barrios and Stanionis. Crawford has Madrimov and whoever else after that.
“You’ve got people at 147, who will look at Boots as their payday. Barrios and Stanionis. What other fights are they going to be in? They need to be looking for the Boots fight for me to pay up or for a site fee to pay up or wherever to pay up to give them their payday,” said Hearn.
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