Promoter Eddie Hearn discussed His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s desire to make massive fights in the sport.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Hearn states that the huge 14,000 crowd that showed up last Saturday night for IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ title defense against David Avanesyan at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia showed how the city wants to see sporting events involving Ennis.
Boots (32-0, 29 KOs) defeated Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 KOs) by a fifth-round stoppage. The ringside doctor chose to advise for the fight to be stopped after the fifth round had ended due to the condition Avanesyan’s face was in, with his left eye and cheek swollen.
Alalshikh’s Interest in Crawford vs. Ennis Fight
Hearn says His Excellency watched the Ennis-Avanesyan fight and would want to do a fight between Ennis, 27, and Terence Crawford. That’s a match that Hearn would prefer to happen now for Boots Ennis rather than waiting until after Crawford fights Canelo Alvarez.
It’s understandable why Hearn wants Crawford to fight now for Ennis. The match would mean more if Terence is still unbeaten.
If he moves up two weight classes from 154 to 168, his chances of success against Canelo would be slim. It’s too big of a weight jump for an older fighter like Crawford, especially with him not getting acclimated to the division first. Moreover, some believe Crawford’s angle for wanting the Canelo fight is a retirement payday.
Once he gets that, he’ll have enough to hang up the gloves and wouldn’t want to risk the inevitable against a young lion like Boots Ennis, who is viewed as a better version of himself.
“He wants to make the biggest fights. He watched tonight and saw one of the biggest crowds in America this year. Over 14,000 were in here tonight. It was incredible,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, having watched the massive size of the audience for the Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. David Avanesyan card last Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Hearn doesn’t say whether he would want to stage a Crawford vs. Ennis fight in Philadelphia or elsewhere, like Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Crawford would likely balk at fighting Ennis in his hometown of Philadelphia. He would feel he’s the A-side due to his superior accomplishments and the only successful PPV event against Errol Spence Jr. last year in July 2023.
“He watched a pound-for-pound great [Boots Ennis]. He loves great fighters,” said Hearn about Turki. “I think he would be very interested in making the Crawford fight [with Ennis]. We’ve got plans at 147, but at the same time, that’s a massive fight, one of the biggest in boxing.
“Boots spoke to Turki and said, ‘Send me the contract.’ That’s a fight they want to make; if he [Crawford] gets past Israil Madrimov, we’ll be open to discussing it,” said Hearn.
Crawford’s Challenge Against Madrimov
Crawford must win his fight against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd at the BMO Stadium in Philadelphia.
The 36-year-old is going up in weight, fighting in his fourth division after having been on a long victory lap, celebrating his win over Errol Spence Jr. last year.
Can Crawford handle fighting in his fourth weight class, coming off a long layoff, and nearing 40 years old? He’s got a lot going against him winning this fight against Madrimov.
“Not nerves. He’s been out for a year,” said Hearn when asked if Boots Ennis seemed nervous during the Avanesyan fight. “At the same time, he was fighting a world-class fighter, and he sort of played with him. He was sitting on the ropes, messing around, taking shots.”
Boots was staying close, fighting Avanesyan’s fight, and trying to entertain his fans. He obviously knew he couldn’t box Avanesyan and wind up being criticized by fans and possibly booed.
No Concerns About Avanesyan’s Resilience
“I knew Ava [Avanesyan] wouldn’t duck out like that because he’s a quality fighter,” said Hearn when asked if he were worried there would be a no contest after hurting Avanesyan with a low blow during the fight.
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