Eddie Hearn has set a timeline of 12 months for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to switch present #1 pound-for-pound Terence Crawford as the highest fighter within the sport.
The 154-Lb Cleanup Plan
Hearn believes that by one 12 months from now, Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) could have cleaned out the 154-lb division, beating these fighters to knock Crawford from the highest spot:
Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Sebastian Fundora
Bakhram Murtazaliev
Hearn ignored the WBA junior middleweight champion Abass Baraou and WBO beltholder Xander Zayas. It might be that he doesn’t view them as being on the similar degree of talent-wise as Fundora, Vergil Jr., and Bakhram.
Crawford’s Throne Beneath Hearth
“I imagine Jaron Ennis is pound-for-pound #1 in ready. I’m speaking about 12 months. I believe he’s the man to switch Terence Crawford,” mentioned Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn to Ring Journal.
Whether or not Ennis replaces Crawford because the #1 pound-for-pound will come right down to Ring Journal, as they’re those that do the voting. So, if Turki Alalshikh desires the ageing 38-year-old Crawford to be saved at #1, he’ll keep there no matter how effectively ‘Boots’ Ennis performs.
Crawford’s efficiency in his victory over Canelo Alvarez on September thirteenth wasn’t pound-for-pound #1 materials. Ennis seemed a lot better in his final combat in opposition to Eimastas Stanionis, scoring a sixth-round stoppage on April 12, 2025. If this isn’t about precise performances, Ennis might have to attend till Crawford retires earlier than he takes the highest spot within the pound-for-pound scores.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. Showdown
“That’s the most effective combat in boxing,” mentioned Hearn about Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. “I believe they [Team Ortiz Jr] assume they will win. We all know we’ll win. So, we’re in. If Vergil desires to be on his time, then there’s nothing we are able to do about it.”
It nonetheless stays to be seen if Golden Boy Promotions will make the combat between their fighter Vergil Jr and Ennis. They could select to steer Ortiz Jr. away from ‘Boots’ if they’ve doubts about his means to win. It’s comprehensible why they’d.
Staying within the place he’s in now because the WBC interim champion, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than Vergil Jr. will get a combat in opposition to WBC champion Sebastian Fundora. That will be a big-money combat for Ortiz Jr.
“We’ll combat Murtazaliev or Fundora. After this Lima combat, anybody goes,” mentioned Hearn about ‘Boots.’
These are fights that Hearn might have a greater probability of lining up for Ennis in 2016. If Ennis defeats these two champions, it’ll enhance the potential of him getting Golden Boy to permit Vergil Jr. to combat him as a result of he could be the final man standing when it comes to the proficient champions.
