Eddie Hearn has named Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, and David Benavidez as three fighters he expects to dominate boxing in the coming years, arguing that the sport’s current pound-for-pound picture is about to undergo a significant generational shift.
Hearn made the case during a sit-down with Bob Arum on DAZN, pointing to the ages of the current elite as the key factor.
When you look at the pound-for-pound list, it’s always the guys at the back end of their career. Crawford’s just done; Usyk’s coming towards the end; even Inoue’s in his 30s, but he’s still got a lot left in the tank. Bivol’s coming up to his mid-30s. These guys are 28, and with Zayas just 23. Quite incredible that he’s already unified and quite incredible that he’s chasing these huge fights at this age. I’m a little bit biased, and I think Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a pound-for-pound great fighter. I think ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is an incredible fighter, and maybe there’s an Inoue fight for him on the horizon. I like David Benavidez. Not a Matchroom fighter, but I really like the way he goes about his work. I think he’s a guy that chases legacy.
Ennis is a Matchroom fighter, making Hearn’s endorsement expected. Rodriguez, the undisputed super flyweight champion, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Benavidez, the WBC light heavyweight champion, is with PBC. Hearn’s willingness to name fighters outside his own stable adds credibility to the assessment.
Ennis unified the WBO and WBA super welterweight titles last month by stopping Xander Zayas at Barclays Center. Rodriguez holds all four major titles at 115 pounds and is considered one of the sport’s most skilled performers at any weight. Benavidez has yet to fight the sport’s elite at light heavyweight but has been consistently praised for his aggressive title-chasing mentality.
