The back-and-forth between Terence Crawford and Jaron “Boots” Ennis was by far the highlight of TNT and DAZN’s most recent boxing collaboration.
Crawford decided that Round 2 of their feud would take place Wednesday on social media.
The former pound-for-pound king hinted that he would come out of retirement to face the unified super welterweight champion, Ennis.
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Crawford asked Ennis to confirm if he’d fight him next.
Ennis responded in the affirmative, only for Crawford to announce that his offer was not genuine and merely a trick to see if “Boots” was avoiding Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Crawford’s deception did not appear to be well received by the boxing fan base.
Boxing in 2026 has already been robbed of one marquee matchup involving Ennis.
After Ennis and Ortiz faced off in the ring following Ortiz’ impressive knockout win over Erickson Lubin this past November, boxing fans thought they’d get to see two American fighters go head-to-head in their primes.
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Instead, what ensued was months of public negotiations, a long-winded legal saga, and ultimately yet another anticipated fight failing to reach the finish line.
While Ortiz remains inactive and without a dance partner, Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas in June to become a two-division world champion and is headed for a three-belt unification fight with IBF champion Josh Kelly as he targets undisputed status in 2027.
Some cannot understand why Ennis isn’t revisiting a fight with Ortiz next, but Ennis explained to Crawford and the TNT studio crew on Saturday’s broadcast that undisputed status is his priority.
It does appear “Boots” would divert from that goal, though, if Crawford were to exit retirement for a major legacy fight.
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