Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will be ringside for Crawford-Madrimov on Saturday

Promoter Eddie Hearn says welterweight star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will be performing this Saturday at the Terence Crawford vs. Israel Madrimov DAZN PPV event at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

According to Hearn, Ennis is Crawford’s best option if he can’t fight Canelo Alvarez in the first quarter of 2025.

Unfortunately, Crawford will not be able to fight Alvarez because the Mexican star has said that he is not interested in anything.

Unless something changes, Crawford must look elsewhere for his next fight, provided he wins Saturday night against Madrimov. Crawford’s best option is Boot Ennis.

“We have another star in Jaron Ennis that we are looking forward to the future with, and he is the best welterweight in the world. No question,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to Pro Boxing Fans, talking about youngster Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, who recently signed with Matchroom and has made a name for himself in the sport.

“He’ll be there, of course,” Hearn said when asked if ‘Boots’ Ennis would be there for this Saturday’s Crawford vs. Madrimov at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. “Obviously I want Madrimov to win, but if Crawford gets through and can’t get Canelo, I think he should fight ‘Boots’ Ennis.

The Ritual of Passing the Lamp

Crawford may not like being used as a stepping stone for ‘Boots,’ but that’s how the game has historically worked.

The old soldiers faced the young lions, who were transformed into stars. That’s how Crawford became a star by beating these old fighters who were willing to fight him.

Shawn Porter
Kell Brook
Amir Khan
Errol Spence
Viktor Postol
Yuriorkis Gamboa
Ricky Burns
Julius Indongo
David Avanesyan
Hank Lundy
Ray Beltran
Briedis Prescott

Is Crawford Selfish?

As you can see, all of Crawford’s notable wins were against old lions, and now he doesn’t want to do his part by being ‘Boots’ Ennis’ step. Is it selfish on Crawford’s part? I think so. Older fighters like Crawford owe it to the sport to develop young talents by letting them face him.

Hearn did not say whether young talent Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) will try to get in the ring to call out Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) if he wins tomorrow night.

Considering Crawford’s uncompromising, stubborn resistance to facing ‘Boots,’ it is predicted that security will prevent him from entering the ring to publicly call him out in front of the millions of fans who will be watching.

“Everyone respected Bivol before the fight, just like everyone respected Madrimov, but no one gave him a chance. “He has incredible talent, as did Dmitry Bivol, and Bivol won comfortably,” said Hearn.

Madrimov enters Saturday’s fight with Crawford in the same position Bivol did when he fought Canelo Alvarez in 2022 and pulled off an upset. No one gave Bivol a chance to win that fight, but he proved them wrong.

Madrimov could do the same against Crawford on Saturday night and put himself in a position to fight Canelo in the first quarter of 2025. Canelo may be more willing to fight Madrimov because it will be a rematch of his first fight with former Gennadiy Golovkin in 2017. Fans would love to see Canelo fight a copycat of GGG.

“For me, don’t be surprised if Madrimov wins this fight on Saturday. He’s against a great player in Terence Crawford, but he’s live, he’s young, he’s in his prime, and he punches very hard, and he’s the best 154 shooter in the world, in my opinion. So, I believe he can do it,” Hearn said of his belief that Madrimov could upset Crawford.

I don’t know if you would call it an upset if Madrimov beats Crawford because he is the smaller, stronger, and more active fighter of the two. Crawford is on the wrong side of 30, rarely fights, and hangs around just for the money.