1. Gabriel Rosado’s Advice: Wait Before Fighting Crawford
Gabriel Rosado, the former two-time middleweight world title challenger, has advised Jaron “Boots” Ennis to delay a potential fight with Terence Crawford. Rosado believes that the 27-year-old IBF welterweight champion, Boots Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs), should take a couple more fights to develop further and increase his chances of beating Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), who will turn 37 in September and typically fights once a year.
2. Boots Ennis vs. David Avanesyan: A Glimpse of Vulnerability
On July 13th, Ennis faced David “Ava” Avanesyan in Philadelphia, stopping him in the fifth round. Despite the decisive victory, Rosado noted that Ennis was hit too much during the fight, indicating some vulnerability. Crawford, on the other hand, defeated Avanesyan by a sixth-round knockout in December 2022, employing a more cautious and less entertaining style.
3. The Contrasting Styles of Ennis and Crawford
Ennis is known for his aggressive and fan-friendly fighting style, which has contributed to his rapid rise in popularity. In contrast, Crawford is a counter-puncher and boxer-puncher who adopts a reactive approach. While effective, Crawford’s style hasn’t garnered the same level of fanfare as Ennis, who prefers to engage and entertain rather than playing it safe.
4. Rosado’s Perspective on Ennis’ Career Path
Rosado advocates for Ennis to continue building his career and defending his title before taking on Crawford. He suggests that fighting opponents with styles similar to Crawford’s could help Ennis gain valuable experience and improve his chances in a future bout against the pound-for-pound king. “Crawford is pound-for-pound at the top. I would like to see Boots keep building himself and maybe defend his title a couple of times,” Rosado told Fighthype.
5. Crawford’s Limited Time in the Sport
The timing of a potential fight with Crawford is critical, as Crawford plans to pursue a title at 154 pounds against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd. Crawford has also expressed interest in moving up to 168 pounds for a high-profile fight against Canelo Alvarez. Given these ambitions, Crawford is unlikely to wait for Ennis to fully develop before he retires.
6. Rosado’s Cautionary Approach
Rosado’s cautious approach emphasizes the importance of timing and strategic career progression. He believes that Ennis should not rush into a fight with Crawford and instead focus on continued development. “Boxing is all about timing. That’s how it is when it comes to business. You don’t want to rush it,” Rosado said.
7. The Reality of Crawford’s Career
While Rosado’s advice is well-intentioned, it may not align with the reality of Crawford’s career trajectory. Crawford, at the end of his career, is seeking lucrative paydays and may not be interested in fighting a rising star like Ennis in the twilight of his boxing journey. If Crawford loses to Madrimov, his retirement or a final big-money fight with Canelo seems likely.
8. Ennis’ Readiness for Crawford
Ennis, at 27, may already be at his peak. Delaying a fight with Crawford could mean missing a critical opportunity. Ennis has demonstrated versatility in his fights, capable of both entertaining and adopting a more cautious approach when necessary. His readiness to fight Crawford should be considered based on his current skills and momentum.
9. The Strategic Waiting Game
Rosado’s strategy involves careful planning and waiting for the perfect moment. He believes that Ennis, with his skills and potential, should not rush into a fight with Crawford but rather wait until he is fully prepared. “He’s so young. He can get better and go into that Crawford fight 100%, where it’s more of an event match-up. To give himself a better chance,” Rosado added.
10. The Future of Ennis’ Career
Ennis faces a pivotal decision in his career: whether to heed Rosado’s advice and continue developing or seize the opportunity to fight Crawford now. His choice will shape his path in the sport and determine whether he capitalizes on his current momentum or waits for an even better moment to challenge one of boxing’s greats.
