Who Is The Next Mandatory Opponent: Boxing News: According to the IBF, the obligatory challenger for Terence Crawford’s undisputed welterweight title is now Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Follow Boxing News Updates with InsideSports.IN.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will have to take on the unbeaten ‘Boots Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) if he decides to retain his IBF 147-pound title following his expected rematch with Errol Spence Jr. in December at 154 pounds.
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Next Mandatory Opponent For Terence Crawford
The deadly, career-ending asteroid-like Boots Ennis, who is headed straight for Crawford, can reverse course if Crawford decides to give up all of his welterweight titles and move up to 154.
Crawford can safely avoid the severe threat that Boots presents by giving up the IBF belt. After defeating IBF, WBA, and WBC welterweight champion Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) in the ninth round via technical knockout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, Crawford remained mum about his future plans.
Crawford said Spence could decide whether or not he wanted a rematch after the bout. If so, a meeting between the two will likely take place in December as part of the contract’s rematch provision for their Saturday battle.
Who Is The Next Mandatory Opponent For Terence Crawford?
In order to increase interest in the second fight, PBC should delay the Crawford-Spence rematch and let both fighters fight someone else in the interim. ‘Boots’ Ennis would be Crawford’s opponent in the subsequent mega-fight, which would bring Terence a tonne of money while also securing Crawford’s place as the top fighter at 147. Errol Spence would then go up to 154 and compete against Sebastian Fundora, Brian Mendoza, or Tim Tszyu.
That being said, it’s likely that Crawford would decide to relinquish his uncontested title at 147 pounds rather than gamble all on a fight with Boots Ennis, who is undeniably the welterweight division’s future star. The 36-year-old Crawford is ten years older than the 26-year-old ‘Boots’ Ennis, and unlike his previous opponent Errol Spence Jr., he won’t be facing a fighter who is fatigued from combat, inactive, and battle-worn and who has been in two terrible accidents.
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