Bernard Hopkins says he’d like to see Terence Crawford fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next in Philadelphia.
Hopkins feels that fight should happen because Crawford’s (41-0, 31 KOs) options leading up to a clash against Canelo Alvarez at 168 aren’t financially realistic. They won’t bring in the money that would make them worthwhile. Canelo reportedly wants $150 million, which isn’t doable now.
Age and Inactivity Taking Their Toll
Boots Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) would be a risky fight for Crawford, 36, who looks like he’s lost a step from age and inactivity. He knows his limits and isn’t eager to step in the ring with the young 27-year-old Ennis, who would test his chin often with his power shots and potentially knock him out.
Nebraska native Crawford is still a good fighter, but he’s aged, and his skills have deteriorated due to his fighting only once a year since 2020. Fighting a talent like Boots could be disastrous for Crawford, and he would have to be willing to risk his legacy.
Crawford captured the WBA junior middleweight title against Israil Madrimov last Saturday, and the only fighter he’s showing interest in facing next is Canelo. However, that fight won’t happen because Canelo wants more money than His Excellency Turki Alalshikh was willing to pay.
Crawford’s Limited Options
If Crawford stays at 154, his options are these fighters:
– Sebastian Fundora
– Vergil Ortiz Jr.
– Tim Tszyu
– Serhii Bohachuk
– Bakhram Murtazaliev
None of those fighters would likely bring in the PPV numbers that a fight between Crawford and Boots Ennis would. However, if Crawford is only interested in taking sure-thing fights, he’ll likely avoid Boots and focus on one of those fighters.
“I would want to make Crawford vs. Boots Ennis in Philadelphia,” said Bernard Hopkins to Fighthype when asked what fight he would like to involve His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
If Turki offers Crawford a massive payday against Boots, he might be willing to overcome his reluctance.
“Make that today because I believe any other fight past those divisions going up to Canelo is not realistic based on financial realistic or non-realistic. In this case non, but Crawford vs. Boots Ennis is the fight to see. “That’s a super fight. Trust me,” said Hopkins.
Crawford’s Self-Confidence Dented
Crawford’s confidence is likely at an all-time low after his fight against Madrimov last weekend, and he may feel he’s not up to the task of fighting Boots Ennis.
Terence looked like a fighter near the end of his career and was nowhere near what he’d been during his prime. Madrimov was hitting Crawford cleanly with right hands all night in that fight and could have stopped him if he’d stepped on the gas in the later rounds.
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