Murtazaliev wants Ennis

Yea, Ennis is a hell of an athlete and is actually extremely marketable. He has the tools of being that next big name, problem is, he has yet to force his camp to challenge himself. In fact he's been complacent. I hope they don't waste his career away on these non memorable match ups that most won't care about at the end of his career.

Murtazaliev is a legit opponent who won't be physically bullied and won't be afraid of turning the match up into a fight. He'll force Boots to step outside of his comfort zone and earn that paycheck

 

You and me both. But I think if I was in either of their camps, I'm going after the strap first which gives me leverage in the negotiations. But definitely.....both these fights should in the books by July/August at the latest. These are easy fights to be made with the backing of all 3 of their handlers.

 

Boots doesn't get the discrediting actions that other fighters get. He actually gets the opposite. He was praised beyond oblivion for beating a battered Dulorme in a division he didn't belong in. He had his own little celebration in his city for being awarded the IBF via email after Crawford was stripped of it immediately following his victory over Errol Spence Jr. And most recently, people are glorifying him stopping Lima, a fighter who isn't even ranked in the division but claim he is the man to beat at 154.

Plus, there are A LOT of fighters, champions, challengers, and contenders who are fighting once a year. Anyone trying to stress that being out the ring for a year is an excuse to why they have a lack luster showing is simply ignorant of the process and talent level at this stage in those fighters' careers. This is what they do. We just had Manny come back from being a full time politician for 4 years beat Mario Barrios and is believed to be negotiating a fight vs Rolly Romero next.

So I highly doubt that Boots will get the hatred that others have gotten. People praise him for doing nothing already. This would actually be the most respectable win for him.

Truthfully he and Ortiz should have been shared the ring with each other as both had openings at the same time often over the last 4/5 years, but everyone wants to protect the 0 so there was no urgency of making the fight on either side.

 

Nah, I heard some of the chants from his most recent fight. Truthfully, he deserves exactly what he gets from this fight even if a great deal of it isn't factual......lol.

He, since hooking up with Eddie Hearn, has been walking around with his chest out promoting have much of a big deal he is and how others wouldn't step to the plate against him. Lying about the negotiations with Brian Norman Jr., even almost walking away from the Stanionis fight. He's finally dialing back from acting like he wants Crawford but is currently indirectly trolling him by showing up to the Madrimov fight standing in the walk way where he knows the fighters have to pass through and calling and requesting to be a sparring partner to help prepare Canelo for Crawford. Now most recently claiming that "Crawford is in the way"......I don't understand how because Crawford isn't going back to 154 nor does he hold a title there.

Ennis talked about being ready to showcase how great he is by fighting the best at 154.....the Ortiz fight was put on a plate for him to eat now....he told Turki that he needs a couple tune up fights first......... And the guy he chose was unranked and fights nothing like Ortiz. Hell, the dude was a southpaw. Vergil isn't. It simply look like he's just padding stats.

I think people really want to see him challenge himself. His best win is vs Stanionis....but Stanionis is MUCH smaller than him so it's hard for us to look at the win as being anything other than him doing what he was supposed to be doing vs that caliber of opponent.

Murtazaliev is much stronger and bigger than anyone he's faced. Only someone ignorant of the sport would try to downplay that win (if in fact it happens).

 

I thought about that as Ortiz was fighting him. Madrimov, sad to say would become the gatekeeper for the 154lb division, but Boots needs that type of fight.....