Jaron “Boots” Ennis bouts have so far provided entertainment simply by showcasing the Philadelphia fighter’s rise to IBF welterweight championship.
Now it’s time for him to test his superior skills and challenge his IQ against the best competitors available. But competitors are nowhere to be found.
“The welterweight division has kind of become a dead weight division,” former champion Paulie Malignaggi said on Thursday’s episode of Probox TV’s “Deep Waters.”
This week, Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. On Thursday, reports said the 26-year-old Ennis will make a mandatory summer title defense against little-known challenger Cody Crowley (22-0, 9 KOs) from Canada. came out.
An exchange bidding session for the pair is scheduled for April 23rd. In the months since Terrence Crawford became the undisputed welterweight world champion by defeating former three-belt champion Errol Spence Jr. in late July, both Crawford and Spence have expressed interest in moving up to junior middleweight. So are former welterweight titleholders Keith Thurman and Danny. Garcia.
This leaves a cast of alternate champions including Ennis, Eimantas Stanionis and possibly the winner of the May 4th Mario Barrios vs. Fabian Maidana match.
“Jaron Ennis had to wait his turn,” Malignaggi said. “He didn’t get an opportunity at the right time.” “Right now he’s in a situation where his career is being mismanaged.” In fact, there is no one he can rely on to get the direct recognition he deserves or win big fights in his prime.
“This is one of the saddest stories in boxing. Jaron Ennis was robbed of his chance to achieve greatness.” And now he’s in a weight class where he can win a title, but how much faith is there? I don’t know if there is. ”
Malignaggi said the biggest welterweight fight Ennis could expect would be against Matchroom fighter Conor Benn. Benn is currently fighting to regain his eligibility to compete in the UK after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
“If you look at the welterweight division now compared to a few years ago, I think Ennis should have been there already,” Malignaggi said. ”
Ennis was promoted by longtime coach Cameron Dunkin before Dunkin passed away earlier this year. Ennis has fought on Showtime, as well as the elite welterweights competing for the Premier Boxing Championship, but he wasn’t fully included in that group.
And now that he’s with Hearn, his streaming partner DAZN doesn’t have the ideal type of opponent for a fighter being compared to Roy Jones Jr.
“Unfortunately, does (Ennis) really have a choice?” Malignaggi said. “It must be really frustrating for Jaron Ennis and his team.”
Another former welterweight champion, Shawn Porter, told Deep Water that Ennis is currently experiencing what Jones experienced as a talented light heavyweight in a weight class devoid of great talent. .
“No one will challenge him for several years,” Porter said. “He may be a star, but he won’t have a dance partner to make him a star.” “The most he can do is 154 pounds. It’s a shame because he has the talent to leave TV.”
