Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is one of boxing’s biggest talents and has aspirations of leaving a legacy like all of the other legends of the sport.
Ennis has a 100 per cent win record from 32 professional fights and will look to extend that this weekend against Karen Chukhadzian.
Saturday’s fight is a rematch of the 2023 contest, which the Philadelphia star won by unanimous decision.
It’s not a fight that ‘Boots’ would’ve wanted in his mindset, however, he has found it hard to get the opponents he wants and recently claimed that as many as four world champions have turned down the chance to fight him.
Jaron Ennis reveals how close he was to making Terence Crawford fight happen
The biggest fight that got away from Jaron Ennis was Terence Crawford.
‘Bud’ was ordered to fight the 27-year-old after beating Errol Spence Jr – another name Ennis wanted – but he opted to relinquish his belt and moved up to 154lbs.
Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter were also two contenders but the pair have retired and Ennis hopes this isn’t a trait that haunts him throughout his career.
He told Forbes: “He [Crawford] wasn’t the only guy that I was trying to fight.
I was trying to fight him. I was trying to fight Errol Spence, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter at one point.
“I was trying to fight all of those guys at the top. That was my goal. That’s how I was going to make my mark.
“But, it went a different way. It was out of my hands, so it is what it is. I’m going to be great regardless.”
Crawford not interested in Ennis fight
It seems that even if ‘Boots’ were to move up to 154lbs and call out Crawford, the chance of a fight happening still wouldn’t be likely, despite Eddie Hearn’s cunning plan to make it happen.
As one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Crawford will have plenty of suitors but rather than Ennis, a big-money fight against Canelo Alvarez.
“Where I’m at right now, I’m looking at the fight that makes the most sense and that’s not Boots,” the 37-year-old admitted.
“Canelo’s gonna bring way more to my legacy and way more to my bank account.
“Because at the end of the day when boxing is done, what will we have? I would have a legacy that’s something people talk about for ages.
“And I would have a bank account that would last for ages as well.”
‘Please’ – Oscar De La Hoya’s gives six-word verdict on Crawford vs Ennis fight
Oscar De La Hoya has had plenty to say on the biggest boxing fights, including an honest verdict on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson, and it hasn’t stopped him from focusing on the contests that could happen.
Unfortunately for Ennis though, De La Hoya holds no hope for him and predicted an easy win for ‘Bud’ back in July 2024.
Writing on X, he said: “Please. Terence Crawford will destroy Boots haha.”
Ryan Garcia on the other hand predicted a much closer contest and actually backed Ennis to win, claiming that Crawford couldn’t “keep up with somebody that talented and young and fast”.