Davis: Ennis' Speed Made Crawford Duck a Real Threat
Kyrone Davis says Jaron Ennis' size and speed made Terence Crawford avoid a welterweight showdown, comparing it to Terry Norris-Sugar Ray Leonard.
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Kyrone Davis says Jaron "Boots" Ennis represented the one welterweight matchup Terence Crawford could not fully control, and that read helps explain why Crawford left the 147-pound division without ever facing him.
Davis has sparred both fighters, and he came away believing Ennis carries many of Crawford's own tools, but with more speed, size, and youth behind them. He compared the hypothetical matchup to Terry Norris' 1991 upset of Sugar Ray Leonard, telling Sean Zittel last year, "It reminds me of a Terry Norris and Sugar Ray Leonard. Boots is a naturally bigger guy. Boots is more explosive." That is not a casual take from someone judging highlight reels. Davis felt that speed and power from both men firsthand.
Why the Terry Norris Comparison Matters
The Norris-Leonard fight is the reference point because it shows how a faster, younger fighter can strip away boxing IQ before it ever gets used. Norris dropped Leonard twice that night and ran away with a lopsided decision, not because he understood the sport better, but because his hands and reflexes were faster in that moment. Crawford has built his legacy on the opposite skill: reading an opponent's rhythm early, then dismantling him with counters once the pattern is clear. That is exactly what happened against Errol Spence Jr., when Crawford picked apart Spence's jab and turned a marquee 147-pound fight into a rout. Ennis presented a tougher version of that puzzle. His combinations come from unusual angles and keep coming after the first opening closes, and his physical size meant Crawford could not simply lean on strength to control the pace, the same trap that caught Leonard against Norris.
The Business Case for Skipping Boots
Crawford had nothing left to prove at welterweight by the time he beat Spence in July 2023, unifying the division and delivering the best win of his career in the process. Ennis, for all the danger he presented stylistically, did not bring the same commercial weight as a Spence or a Canelo Alvarez fight, and that gap in money made the risk far harder to justify. Beating Ennis would have added to Crawford's resume. Losing to him could have reshaped how his entire welterweight run gets remembered, a bad trade for a fighter already building a case as one of the sport's all time greats.
Ennis has since backed up the hype in Davis' comparison, taking over the welterweight division after Crawford's exit and adding a super welterweight title while staying unbeaten.
Betting Angle
There is no Crawford-Ennis fight on the books, and with Crawford now campaigning above 147 pounds, the matchup looks unlikely to ever get made. For bettors, the more useful takeaway is what this says about Ennis going forward. Sportsbooks have consistently made him a heavy favorite in recent fights, and the speed and size advantages Davis described, the same ones that reportedly steered Crawford away, are exactly what should keep him favored against the rest of the welterweight and 154-pound field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Terence Crawford ever fight Jaron Ennis?
No, Terence Crawford left the welterweight division after beating Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023 without ever facing Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.
What did Kyrone Davis say about a Crawford vs. Ennis fight?
Kyrone Davis, who has sparred both fighters, compared a potential Crawford-Ennis fight to Terry Norris' 1991 upset of Sugar Ray Leonard, suggesting Ennis' size and explosiveness could have overwhelmed Crawford's ring intelligence.
What is Jaron Ennis' current status in boxing?
Jaron 'Boots' Ennis inherited the welterweight division after Crawford's departure and has since also captured a super welterweight title while remaining unbeaten.
