Hearn: The Saudis Can Make Crawford vs. Ennis

“The only person that can deliver that fight is His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh]. Crawford is going to want a huge amount of money for that fight because of the risk. I’ll make sure Boots gets the right price as well. When I took Jaron to meet His Excellency in New York, he made it very clear that was a fight that he was very interested in.

“So, I’m hoping after [Cody] Crowley, we can get a unification against one of those two, and then move on to a Terence Crawford fight. I don’t want to undersell my guy [Boots Ennis], but we have to prove; we have to make that fight [against Crawford] massive. We got to go out there and fill Wells Fargo, and destroy Crowley, and then you got to get the people saying, ‘Oh my God, Crawford against Ennis is the biggest fight in boxing.’ His Excellency reads everything and he’s a massive boxing fan as well. So, if he starts feeling what all the fans are feeling, we’re going to get it,” Hearn stated 

Ennis vs. Crawford

Nevertheless, the fight is unlikely for the following reasons. Crawford is 36 and has nothing left to prove in the sport. He is a two-weight undisputed champion, who is undefeated. Ennis has not won a world title outright since he was elevated to a champion. Crawford is also chasing undisputed in a third weight class. Boxing at 154 allows him to do that.

If he picks up the WBA belt from Madrimov, Crawford could fight for the WBO and WBC belts next. He is the WBO mandatory for Sebastian Fundora, who holds those titles. Even after that, Crawford could box Canelo Alvarez for undisputed at 168. Reports indicate the Saudis want to make that fight. That leaves Ennis further down the pecking order unless he is willing to move up to 154 and beyond. Since he has not boxed at that weight class, it is a big risk. Ennis is the future of the welterweight division. Once he cleans up at 147, then those big fights will come.