Turki Al-Sheikh has given up on his efforts to make a battle between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford for September. He’ll now try and put collectively a Crawford vs. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in 2025.
Mike Coppinger experiences that Turki has “suspended efforts” to get the Canelo-Crawford conflict made after Canelo selected to face Jake Paul on Might third. Turki now needs to make the Crawford-Boots conflict this yr. That battle is one which Boots Ennis and followers have needed, however Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) has been reluctant to take.
Turki’s Shift
Coppinger doesn’t say why Turki selected to surrender on making the battle between Crawford and Canelo for September. There are rumors that Turki misplaced curiosity in making the Canelo-Crawford battle as a result of he didn’t need to placed on an occasion that will usher in fewer PPV numbers than the Canelo vs. Jake Paul occasion in Might.
Maybe Terence will need to battle Boots now as a result of the alternate options at 154 are brutal. The division is crammed with sharks that will feast on an growing older fighter like Crawford.
Getting the 37-year-old Crawford to conform to a battle in opposition to the younger killer Boots Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) may very well be troublesome for Turki. If Crawford insists on solely combating Canelo for the payday, he gained’t like the thought of a smaller purse in opposition to Boots.
All of the Mayweather ways Crawford and his coach Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre plan to make use of in opposition to Canelo won’t work in opposition to Boots. He’s good at chopping off the ring and has had a number of observe recently along with his two fights in opposition to Karen Chukhadzhian.
Ennis is way more offensive-minded than Madrimov, and he may break Terence’s unbeaten document. If he’s nonetheless hoping behind his thoughts that he can get the Canelo payday in 2026, Boots may spoil that dream.
It’s unclear whether or not Turki will revisit attempting to barter the Canelo vs. Crawford battle in 2026. If he’s holding again this yr as a result of he doesn’t need to have a smaller occasion, followers will nonetheless examine that battle even when it’s pushed into subsequent yr.
Crawford is an effective fighter, however his reputation and social media attain are gentle years under Jake’s. A battle between Terence and Canelo wouldn’t come near what Canelo-Paul would do on PPV.
IBF welterweight champion Ennis will battle WBA champion Eimantas Stanionis in a unification bout on April twelfth in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey. After that battle, Boots is free to face Crawford.
.@Turki_alalshikh is suspending efforts to finalize contracts for Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford in September within the wake of Alvarez’s novelty bout with Jake Paul, sources inform ESPN. Alalshikh will as an alternative look to make Crawford-“Boots” Ennis later this yr. Alalshikh supplied…
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) February 7, 2025
Final Up to date on 02/06/2025
