Terence Crawford recently flagged a habit in Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis that he believes could hand Vergil Ortiz Jr. a path to victory if the two unbeaten 154-pounders ever meet.
The retired 42-0 champion alerted Ennis that he cannot afford to rely on his athleticism alone against a puncher of Ortiz Jr.’s caliber.
Crawford’s read carries weight given his standing as one of the sharpest tactical minds the sport has produced. He believes Ennis has every tool needed to beat Ortiz Jr.
However, leaning too heavily on natural gifts against a genuine finisher is a mistake that could prove costly.
Ennis and Ortiz Jr. have been linked again in what many view as one of the most anticipated unmade fights at junior middleweight. Both fighters remain undefeated, and the matchup has long been floated as the kind of clash the division needs.
If Boots gets hurt like he did the last time, Ortiz is gonna finish him. He’s got to tighten up his defence. He gotta stop exchanging. I know he’s faster than most, more explosive than most, but, at the same time, he’s shown in the past that he can get careless and that he’s going out there just to fight. When you get higher and higher, that’s not gonna be enough.
Crawford Still Analyzing Contenders In Retirement
Crawford competed from 2008 to 2025, retired undefeated with a record of 42-0 (33 KOs). He previously became undisputed champion at lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight, though he no longer holds any active world titles.
He has repeatedly described himself as happily retired, saying he has “nothing to gain” from returning after walking away unbeaten. His breakdown of the Ortiz Jr.–Ennis matchup shows he continues to study the current landscape even in retirement.
The assessment adds elite credibility to a debate that has followed Ennis, echoing earlier questions about where he stands relative to boxing’s top tier.