Although he’s growing impatient, Jaron Ennis is twiddling his thumbs while biding his time on the sidelines. While talented, according to most observers, both Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. have proven themselves as the best that the welterweight division has to offer.
Over the years, particularly in recent months, both sides have done their best to settle the debate and meet in the center of the ring. As team Crawford and team Spence began crossing their t’s and dotting their i’s, fans worldwide began to celebrate as a target date of November 19th, in Las Vegas, Nevada, became a distinct possibility.
However, as is often the case in their protracted negotiations, talks fell apart in the 11th hour. Crawford though, reluctantly moved forward with his career, scoring an easy stoppage victory over David Avanesyan on December 10th. Spence, in the meanwhile, is attempting to pick up the pieces as he prepares for his own return.
Ultimately, both parties hope that with cooler heads, they’ll circle back to the negotiating table and finalize their mouthwatering showdown. Although many would consider the winner of their undisputed clash as the best fighter around, Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) begs to differ.
In just a few short days, the smooth switch-hitting contender from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will square off against the unheralded Karen Chukhadzhian at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. on January 7th.
Though his motivation is never in doubt, Ennis, should he pick up the vacant IBF interim title, admits winning such a trinket would mean the world to him. But before the 25-year-old attempts to prove himself on the biggest of stages, he’s confident that no one, including Spence, Crawford, or any other elite-level fighter, is quite on his level.
“I’m the best fighter in the world,” said Ennis to a group of reporters. “Period.”
