The victory earned Crawford the undisputed Super Middleweight title, adding a historic third division to his already impressive resume. Following the win, attention quickly turned to potential next fights for the undefeated champion.

Instead of providing concrete plans, Crawford emphasized rest and recovery after one of the biggest bouts of his career. When asked about a potential showdown against David Benavidez, Crawford’s head trainer, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, made the team’s stance clear on Fight Hub TV.

Crawford’s team confirms immediate fight decisions

Crawford’s head trainer, provided a clear update on their immediate plans: “No, we ain’t doing that fight. No, we’re not going to vacate the belts. We’re just going to sit where we need to sit for a minute, and then get back in the gym, and do our thing,” McIntyre explained.

Benavidez, 30-0 with 24 knockouts, currently holds the WBA regular Light Heavyweight title but has competed mainly at Super Middleweight, capturing titles in 2017 and 2022. Though fans speculated about a matchup with Crawford, Alvarez ultimately took that fight first, leaving Benavidez out of contention for now.

What’s next for Crawford?

Crawford, 42-0 with 31 knockouts, is the first male boxer to become undisputed in three weight divisions. Questions remain about his next move, especially considering his earlier statement that he will not return to Welterweight to face WBA champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, who is 34-0 with 30 knockouts.

With fights against Benavidez and Ennis effectively off the table, speculation about a rematch with Canelo Alvarez is increasing. Crawford’s team appears focused on maintaining his dominance and maximizing recovery before plotting the next career-defining challenge.

Canelo has a long history of picking top-tier sparring partners ahead of marquee fights, and this camp was no different. By bringing in the undefeated Ennis, widely regarded as one of boxing’s brightest young talents, he ensured that he was tested by speed, skill, and versatility similar to what Crawford brings into the ring.

In speaking with reporters, the 35-year-old champion summed up his sparring with Ennis in just two words: “really good.” But as Canelo explained, the work went far beyond simple rounds in the gym—it tied into a family history dating back more than a decade.

Canelo’s choice of sparring partner

Fresh off his victory over Cuba’s William Scull in May, where he unified the IBF world title with his existing WBC, WBA, and WBO straps, Canelo entered camp with one mission: to replicate Crawford’s unique style. Ennis, known for his ability to switch stances, explosive hand speed, and defensive sharpness, was the ideal choice.

“Yeah, more than one time [we sparred] and he helped me really good, and I’m very grateful with him,” Canelo said to FightHubTV. “He’s very similar to Crawford—he switches guards too, he’s fast and he’s a pretty good fighter, so I worked really good with him.”

History, respect between Canelo and the Ennis family

The Mexican great was quick to highlight the respect he has for the Ennis family. “We have history because 14 years ago his older brother helped me… that’s why we have history with the Ennis family,” Álvarez noted.

The stakes against Terence Crawford

Now, Canelostands on the brink of adding another monumental name to his résumé. A victory over Crawford at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas would further solidify his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his generation.

For Canelo, the sparring with Ennis represents more than just technical drills—it symbolizes readiness. The champion knows Crawford presents a unique challenge: a fighter who blends speed, ring IQ, and adaptability in ways few opponents can match.

Amid the hype, news surfaced that Canelo Alvarez enlisted Jaron “Boots” Ennis to assist in sparring sessions. The revelation immediately sparked conversations in boxing circles, adding another layer of intrigue to the already intense build-up. Crawford’s reaction was measured, demonstrating both respect for his opponent and confidence in his own preparation.

In a recent video posted by Fight Hub TV, Crawford addressed the sparring sessions with candor. “What is there to talk about? You’re fighting the best fighter in the world. You better be taking it seriously. That goes to show you how serious he’s taking me, and how much he respects me,” Crawford said.

How does Ennis’ sparring affect Crawford’s approach?

Crawford views Canelo’s use of Ennis not as a threat, but as confirmation of his own elite status. “Because, if I haven’t fought anyone, or if I was too small, or if I was, all these things that the media say I was, then he wouldn’t need these guys to help prepare him to fight me. He wouldn’t need all the help that he’s getting,” Crawford added. This mindset reflects his focus on execution over distraction, a hallmark of his undefeated career (41-0, 31 KOs).

What’s at stake on September 13?

The main event will feature Crawford vs. Canelo over 12 rounds for the undisputed super-middleweight title. Alongside them, a stacked undercard offers high-stakes action including Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr., Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez, and heavyweight matchups such as Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin. Every bout adds to the narrative of one of boxing’s most anticipated weekends.

Both Canelo, the Mexican boxing icon, and Davis, the American knockout artist, have proven their remarkable ability to pack stadiums and capture fans’ attention on a global scale. However, Hearn points to 27-year-old Jaron Ennis as the next big star in American boxing, positioning him just behind Alvarez and Davis in terms of star power and drawing potential.

This statement comes on the heels of Ennis’ dominant performance against Eimantas Stanionis, where he won by stoppage in a fight that took place at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. The event sold out, with 10,000 tickets sold, further underscoring the growing interest in Ennis’ rising career.

Hearn, who has worked closely with Ennis, was quick to highlight his fighter’s ticket-selling ability. Ennis has sold a remarkable 35,000 tickets across his last three fights. Notably, his July 2024 showdown with David Avanesyan sold 14,119 tickets, a strong indicator of his drawing power.

On social media, Hearn shared a post celebrating Ennis’ impressive numbers: “The building of a Superstar. 9 months, 3 fights. 1 voluntary, 1 mandatory, 1 Unification. 3 belts. 35,000 tickets. Huge global viewership. Just the beginning for @jaronennis.“

Hearn trusts in Ennis’ meteoric rise

Following Ennis’ stunning victory over Stanionis, Eddie Hearn reinforced his confidence in the fighter’s potential, stating: “Tell me a bigger ticket seller in America than Jaron Ennis. Gervonta Davis, huge ticket seller, and Canelo Alvarez. That’s it. This is the guy right here. We don’t need to be waiting for a call.” Hearn emphasized Ennis’ ability to generate both excitement and financial success, positioning him as one of boxing’s brightest stars.

Ennis at the height of Welterweight

Ennis’ career trajectory is undeniably on the rise. With an undefeated record of 34 wins and 30 knockouts, the welterweight champion currently holds the WBA, IBF, and The Ring Magazine titles. His next target is Brian Norman Jr., who holds the WBO welterweight belt, and Ennis is determined to unify the division by claiming the last remaining piece of the welterweight puzzle.

Ennis’ rapid ascent in the sport, combined with his growing fan base, makes him a central figure in the future of American boxing, a future that Hearn firmly believes will feature the young boxer at the forefront.

The prospect of seeing these generational talents collide at 168 pounds in a bout that could define an era is undeniably compelling. However, not everyone shares the same unreserved enthusiasm for this potential contest.

One particularly cautious voice is that of Jaron “Boots” Ennis, a rising star in the welterweight division, who is currently preparing for his own challenge this weekend against Eimantas Stanionis. Despite his focus on the upcoming bout, Ennis took a moment to express his reservations regarding the potential clash between Crawford and Canelo, suggesting that “Bud” might be biting off more than he can chew.

Ennis’ warning

In a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, Ennis raised a red flag over Crawford’s decision to jump up two weight divisions to face Álvarez. “I think Crawford should take a warm-up fight at 160 just to feel what it’s like against a bigger guy,” Ennis advised, emphasizing the importance of gradually adjusting to the difference in size and power.

Ennis’ concerns center largely on the power factor, especially at super middleweight. “Canelo’s been at that weight for a while. He’s been pinning big guys out. Crawford’s smaller, and Canelo be dropping dudes that come in at like 200 pounds on fight night,” Ennis explained, highlighting Canelo’s punching power and experience against naturally bigger opponents.

Can Crawford really beat Canelo?

The fundamental question remains: can Crawford’s elite skill neutralize Canelo’s elite size and power? Crawford is widely regarded as one of the most technically refined boxers of his generation. However, stepping directly into a bout with Canelo would leave him little margin for error, especially against a seasoned and powerful champion at 168 pounds.

April 16 is the date selected for the fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This is a big one cause the WBC, WBA, and IBF World Welterweight belts will be on the table. The road to the Undisputed will only have one more stop: Terrence Crawford with his WBO title.

The 147-pound division is currently one of the most competitive of boxing: to the 3 latter names, it is necessary to add a refreshed Keith Thurman, Vergil Ortiz Jr, andRadzhab Butaev among others. That is why a statement of having the skills to domain the category is astonishing.

The prospect that says he could easily become the undisputed Welterweight Champion

Directly from Philadelphia, with 24 years old and an impressiveresumé of 28-0-0 (26 KO’s) Jaron Ennis thinks he has what is needed to unify the 147-pound category, despite there are names such as Errol Spence (27-0-0, 21 KO’s), Yordenis Ugas (27-4-0, 12 KO’s) and Terrence Crawford (38-0-0, 29 KO’s) ahead.

“I am in the gym staying sharp just waiting for the next opponent… My whole goal is to grab all the belts and then become undisputed. I will fight anybody, you can put ‘the Hulk’in there, I don’t care… The better my opponent is, the better I can be…If I fight these guys and I beat them easy I don’t want you to be surprised”, stated Boots Ennis for Fight Hub TV Youtube channel.

Ennis shared that he hopes to announce soon his next fight, expecting to be held, as Errol Spence Jr. vs. Yordenis Ugas, in April. His last clash was in October 2021, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he destroyed Puerto Rican Thomas Dulorme in one round via knockout.