“We Wanted to Fight for It”: Months After IBF Title Fiasco, Jaron Ennis’s Father Reveals Failed Negotiations With Terence Crawford in Startling Confession

After chasing a titular fight for a while, Jaron Boots Ennis held the IBF welterweight title. However, it was not the way he had hoped to take it. Echoing these sentiments, his father, Bozey Ennis, addressed the criticism that his son faced at the moment over his IBF championship that came without a victory.

Junior Ennis became a proper titlist after being in the top-contenders list at 147 for quite a while. In the wake of Terence Crawford’s historic win over Errol Spence Jr. for undisputed status, ‘Bud’ was mandated to defend his IBF title against Ennis. However, Bud also had to fight Spence Jr. for a rematch, as per the rematch clause, which was invoked by the latter. Since he couldn’t face Ennis until after his rematch, the IBF decided to strip and award Ennis the title. Even though they won the championship, his son was referred to as an ’email champ,’ a tag that both Ennis and his dad detest.

Jaron Ennis wanted the title the right way

“We didn’t want it that way. We wanted to fight for it (the title),” said Bozey to Boxing Scene, a statement reflecting the father-son duo’s displeasure at now holding a title that they’ve been chasing for over two years. He says we don’t see them hooting and hollering. He’s right, we don’t. How could they rejoice in something that a fighter in them rejects?

According to Ennis Sr., they hoped that Crawford vs. Errol’s winner could fight off Ennis, but that didn’t happen either. He believed that Terence Crawford didn’t give his son the chance when he could’ve. Instead, Crawford chose to go with the easy fights, and when the time came, Bud went with the money fights which left them in a lurch. “We talked about that, but Crawford didn’t want to fight Boots because he (Crawford) can’t make no money. But he fought [David] Avanesyan (last year) and Boots is way more known than Avanesyan.”

Bozey remained truculent with Bud for claiming that Ennis was “cool with being” an “email champion.” He retorted, “We wanted to fight you and you had the nerve to say that we got the title that way. Nah, we’ve been in line.”

Their desperation is understandable, somehow even legitimate. The uncertainty that looms over Boots’ career is no doing of his. So, they turn toward a trusted aide for guidance.

Boots seeks guidance from Stephen Espinoza

In the heart-to-heart with Boxing Scene, Bozey revealed that they’ve been receiving guidance from Espinoza, the outgoing Showtime Boxing head. The broadcast partner that led the industry for about 37 years ceased operations, with its last headliner David Morell vs. Sena Abko taking the course on December 17. The legacy brand was the one to get broadcast rights to Boots’ last fight against Roiman Villa in July this year.

Remaining optimistic of his undefeated son’s future in Espinoza’s hand, “All I can tell you is that we in good hands,” Bozey Ennis said. “We go wherever Espinoza goes. We good—we set up for next year.”

Also Read: “Can’t Take That Away From Me”: Terence Crawford Continues Roasting IBF and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, but This Time With Hard Earned “Diamonds”

It is unclear who he fights next. But Boots is ready for any that may come his way. Bud? Mario Barrios? Spence? Eimantas Stanionis? “Don’t really matter. Depends on what these guys want to do,” said the fighter.

Who do you think Jaron Ennis should fight next? Let us know in the comments section below.

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