Terence Crawford believes the upcoming super welterweight banger between the unified champion, Xander Zayas, and 154-pound world title challenger, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, is too soon for one of the fighters involved.
The fight is one of the most significant bouts in all boxing, bringing together Puerto Rican prizefighter Zayas, who is one of the more improved champions in recent memory, after overcoming Abass Baraou in a fan-friendly bout in front of his own people, earlier this year.
There are not many, if any, hardcore fight fans who aren’t aware of who Ennis really is, but the fighter is yet to compete in a breakthrough bout.
But that’s exactly what ‘Boots’ is going to get on June 27 when he tries to wrest the WBA and WBO championships from Zayas’s waist at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn atop a DAZN pay-per-view.
“Man, that’s a tough fight,” Crawford said, in footage Jai McAllister captured on YouTube.
“Especially for Xander at this point in his career, but it shows his heart and his confidence he has in himself.
“He’s ready to make history for himself, and his country.”
Crawford continued: “He’s going to do really well in that fight. But I just think, right now, it’s a little bit too early for him.”
If Crawford’s prediction comes true, and Ennis is too good for Zayas, it would anoint a new champion and, arguably, a new No.1 in the entire division.
But there are many other fighters who’d want to challenge him not just for the belts but that accolade as No.1, with Vergil Ortiz keen to return to the ring, and Sebastian Fundora also a champion.
