Boots sure looks the part of a fighter who could be great in the years to come. However, like Ali said about Foreman, "I haven't seen Boots in a tussle yet, where he throws his load and has to come back". Too bad Crawford and Spence will avoid him at all costs, just my opinion but who knows ? Maybe the winner will take on Boots in late 23 or early 24.
Crawford is going to destroy Spence in 20 days. Spence won't want a rematch and neither will the public. Crawford is in a weird position, defend against Ennis or go to 154? But why go to 154, Jermell is gone so what is the big fight? I honestly think Crawford may retire.. So what happens to Ennis? There are no big fights at 154 for him either I think they make that fight with Stanionis happen. I think they pay up to get Thurman after that and get him his cash out. PBC has no use for Ugas either. They would probably be happy to offer him up. After that there are a steady stream of challengers out there: Rashidi Ellis, Cody Crowley, etc. These are steady events but no big PPV challenges. He just needs to collect all the belts and accept quantity over quality as far as opponents. Start fighting 3x year. I don't see any opponent for him that makes a huge event in the next two years. Eventually maybe Haney or Lopez move up to 147.
Crawford is looking for money, for the big money. That's why he became a free agent and he has risked a lot taking that step. What I mean is that it would be stupid if crawford wins to Spence and he fights ennis, because this fight would not bring the big money, it would not be balanced in terms of risk/money. We can basically say similar about spence. No good risk/reward balance. It would make more sense if ennis fights the loser of spence vs crawford, build some name, and then the winner can fight ennis for the big money.
I get what you are saying, I can kind of see the similarities in style too. But I think he moves better a bit better than Broner, but suspect he'd struggle if forced on the back foot like Broner was vs Maidana, as like Broner he's at his most effective when he's pressing and allowed to get off first and lead as like Broner he isn't a counter puncher. I also think he has a better gas tank than Broner. Broner didn't put the work in the gym and could fight in spurts because of that while Ennis doesn't have that issue and breaks guys down with a relentless offense. In this regard he's more like Spence than Broner. I think he'll have a better career than Broner, but I don't see him ever being on Spence or Crawford's level, due to the limitations in his style.
If Crawford does beat Spence and retires without fighting Ennis does that go down as a massive duck ?
You dont become a free agent to retire a couple of years later. I dont think crawford will retire. But as I said I dont think he will fight ennis either, because the only reason to become a free agent is to pursue the big money, and today ennis is bringing no money to the ring, or at least, not enough. Answering to your question: I dont think that not fighting the IBF interim champion is any dodge, if a double undisputed champion decides to retire, tbh. Ennis could try to fight a former champion before we can say that he's being dodged or something, that would be a step in the right direction.
We don't actually know what level Spence and Crawford are at either though to be fair. Theres no one on either of their resumes that Ennis wouldn't be favoured to beat. Crawford for example has a very forgettable resume for a guy of his age who is apparently one of the P4P kings. I know they have beat better names than Ennis of course, but again neither have beaten a really elite name either.
Just because he'd be favoured to beat everyone on their resume doesn't mean he would though. Ennis I do believe is the clear number 3 at the weight right now but, he's even less tested than Spence and Crawford. Hell he's not even proven he's better than anyone on their resume like Porter or Brook. So until he proves it, he's not on their level and based on what I've seen, he doesn't have their skills. But then he may need to be tested to show what he really has in his arsenal.
First thing I guess I would ask is, what is your version of "DESTROY"? They have 2 common opponents that if you want to play the Mayweather/Pacquiao game with then history has shown that doesn't hold up that "Pac beat Mayweather common opponents worse" This fight could very well take a lot out of both fighters. As far as a stoppage, if Crawford were to stop Spence it would more likely be a quick ending KO, but if it is Spence that gets the stoppage, it will be due to more accumulative battery. Either way I don't think one guy is "destroying" the other without repercussions themselves. Stanionis now has the unenviable task of waiting for the winner of Spence/ Crawford likely only to find out that guy doesn't want to fight him because there is no money in it, and then a fight with Ennis can be made.
Yep there was a good reason why he didn't move up like he said he would after Catterall. His style is reliant on him being the bigger man to physically dominate opponents up close, at 147 he'd lose his usual advantage and get battered by the top guys.