This week, a new world champion was crowned in the welterweight division.
No fight took place. Instead, one of the brightest young stars of the sport had his crowning glory via email. Or considering the sport is still in the dark ages, maybe it was a carrier pigeon who delivered the news.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is the man to take the undisputed crown from Terence Crawford. But he didn’t beat his fellow American in the ring. The IBF took the title from Crawford because he has a rematch clause with Errol Spence Jnr.
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Crawford became the 10st 7lb undisputed king when he dismantled rival Spence in July in the showpiece fight of the year to unify the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF crowns. Yet here we are four months on and Crawford’s career has stalled yet again waiting on the return fight with Spence to be confirmed while a sanctioning body’s greed means they’ve stepped in to take a belt away.
Ennis, 26, is unbeaten in 31 bouts and he’s been making all the right noises in the boxing world for some time now with 28 knockouts along the way. But his coronation shouldn’t come away from the ring by the stroke of a pen by some clerical body in IBF’s offices.
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The Philadelphian’s moment should have come with another knockout win on the biggest stage. Another thing to add to the list of boxing’s problems. Stars aren’t made via paperwork, they’re made in the spotlight.
Now the first time the public will see Ennis the world champion will be when he walks out with the IBF belt he’s never actually won. It would be like Manchester City getting the European Cup without having to play the final.
Ennis was destined to become a world champion but not like this. Who knows what is happening with Crawford, the best fighter on the planet when he’s actually fighting but yet again it looks like a delay in his storied career.
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It could be something to do with Showtime’s exit from the sport given their close relationship with PBC, who are in control of the Crawford and Spence saga. Netflix and Amazon are considering making a move to broadcast fights from the US and could pair up the Al Haymon-backed group.
Meanwhile over in the UK, Starsport understands Sky Sports are considering bringing in other promoters to work alongside their current partner Boxxer. Top Rank have held talks about staging UK shows on the channel while other big-name promoters have also had discussions.
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