Terence Crawford v Jaron Ennis: Who is the better fighter?

David Avanesyan has been enjoying a well deserved break in America after coming up short in a challenge for Jaron Ennis’ IBF welterweight title in Philadelphia last month but his trainer, Carl Greaves, is back at work in Newark in Nottinghamshire.

If the unlikely relationship has worked out well for Avanesyan – who has won a WBA title and enjoyed a long, brutal reign as the European welterweight champion – the partnership has given Greaves the opportunity to pit his wits against two of the best welterweights of the modern era.

Avanesyan, 30-5-1 (18 KOs), stepped into the breach and accepted the fight with Ennis on a month’s notice when Cody Crowley was ruled out of the fight after failing a pre-fight eye examination. Avanesyan gave his usual, whole hearted display of aggression but was dropped and retired by his corner after five rounds after sustaining facial damage. 

In December 2022, Avanesyan traveled to Omaha, Nebraska and was stopped in the sixth round of his challenge for Crawford’s WBO welterweight title. It is a fight which still provokes rancor in Avanesyan’s team due to the controversy surrounding the state of Crawford’s Everlast gloves, both of which split open during the fight and were inspected before the start of round six.

A fight between Crawford, 40-0 (32 KOs), and Ennis, 32-0 (29 KOs), would be an outstanding fight between two of the most talented fighters in world boxing. 

Greaves has spent hours watching both men on film and has been around them during fight week. He has witnessed how they carry themselves on fight night and seen, first hand, how skilled they are once the first bell sounds.

With Crawford set to face Israil Madrimov for the  WBA super welterweight title this weekend, it is the ideal time to ask Greaves for his opinions on how he and Ennis compare in a few key departments.

SKILL AND STYLE

“‘Boots’ Ennis is the more busy, more active fighter in my opinion. He’s a bit younger and a bit fresher. On the other hand, Crawford is very, very patient. His timing is very good and he plans just the right attacks at just the right times whereas Ennis was more busy.”

POWER

“I think that Crawford is a heavier handed fighter. I was talking to David and he said that Crawford hits harder but that ‘Boots’ Ennis was a bit sharper and busier. Then you take into consideration that when David fought Crawford, the whole six rounds he was in there with him he had dodgy gloves. When he [Avanesyan] came out of the ring afterwards he said he’d never had pain or lumps on his head like it. 

“David also said about how hard Egidijus Kavaliauskas hits [the Lithuanian stopped Avanesyan in six rounds in 2018]. He said there’s no comparison between Kavaliauskas and ‘Boots’ Ennis. I think he meant that Ennis is sharp and busy but he never really put a dent in him apart from the flash knockdown.”

RING IQ/ADAPTABILITY

“I would say Crawford is far more experienced. I know that ‘Boots’ has had a lot of fights and if you look at their records, they’re extremely similar but you’ve got to look at the level that Crawford has been fighting at and he’s way more experienced at that level than Ennis.

“I do think that there’s probably a bit more to come from Ennis, though. As he carries on stepping up through the levels he’s going to have to show how good he is.”

TEMPERAMENT

“‘Boots’ Ennis and his team are far better people. Proper people and as straight as they come. Really nice.

“When we were around the Crawford team, it was as if it was all set up to annoy us. At the public workout they sent a load of his cheerleaders around and were giving us grief while we were doing the public workout. For the whole week it was non-stop. They’re just not nice people. 

“I wouldn’t say Ennis is more relaxed because, as a person, Crawford himself is very relaxed but the people around him aren’t good.”

WHO WOULD WIN?

“It’s hard for me to compare the two and saying who would win but I do think if David had more notice and was better prepared, the longer that fight [with Ennis] went the more he was in it. It’s a bit frustrating really.

“In a nutshell – and after speaking to David – he thinks Crawford would beat ‘Boots’ Ennis.”