Thursday's, in this corner of the Universo Pugilistico, are all about my sack-- my bulging, bulbous, aching sack-- and the gooey, salty truth contained within. So...sit back, close your eyes, pull back your hair, and get ready for this week's money shot of wisdom. This week we have comments/questions regarding Jaron Ennis, promoter nastiness, and the problem with being Terence Crawford.
Jaron Ennis: Ready for Stardom?
Hey Magno.
Will we see the birth of a new star this Saturday in Jaron “Boots” Ennis or will we see where the hype ends?
– Mark from KC
Hey Mark.
I don’t think Ennis is hype. I think he’s the real deal. But, yeah, he’ll be taking a big step up when he faces Sergey Lipinets this Saturday. He’ll see some new wrinkles in Lipinets and, maybe most of all, he’ll be facing a guy who’s not there to lose and who is just as confident of winning as he is. Sure, most fighters don’t come to the ring with the idea that they’re going to lose and I’m sure most of Ennis’ past opponents weren’t saying “great...now, I lose,” but they were not guys on the rise with legitimate hopes of becoming players on the main stage. They were solid guys who had been beaten already and knew where their ceiling was. Lipinets has his one defeat against Mikey Garcia, but he still believes in himself and believes that he’s not going to lose. That mindset is important.
Stylistically, Lipinets is savvy, patient, and clinical in his approach. If he can survive the early onslaught from “Boots,” things will get interesting as the fight goes on. The question is whether he can survive that kind of offensive pressure.
I like Ennis. I believe in his elite-level capabilities. He’s only 23 and, even if he beats Lipinets, he’s got some growing and developing to do. But the raw material is there for superstardom and I’m excited to see how far he can go.
The Evilness of Evil Promoters
Hi, Magno!!! Wishing you and your family the best of health. Keep doing what you do. I just saw an interview with Amanda Serrano's trainer and manager, Jordan , that was so transparent that it really touched a nerve!! [Magno: Jordan Maldonado, on DAZN’s AK & Barak show, alleged that promoter Eddie Hearn forced Serrano into a low-ball deal to fight Katie Taylor by threatening to scratch her bout with Heather Hardy if she refused the offer]. When you analyze what he said, we can all see what goes behind the curtains when these promoters try to force their will on the fighter, just because they have all the economical leverage. On one side you hear a Hearn saying that he works for the boxer and not the other way around, but he only means, he works for Joshua and Canelo because of what they represent, but the way he bullied Amanda Serrano, is most surely the way he treats other fighters as well, who have not reached Canelo's and Joshua's status in the sport. We all know this has always happened and will continue to do so, but it is my hope that responsible and brave writers like you continue to expose them for what they are, so when history looks back at them, they will see what a promoter like Hearn does to one of the best boxers in our time like Amanda Serrano. Hopefully they can right the wrong and we can see the great fights between the best, treating the boxers with respect and fairness. It does not cost a penny to dream, especially with the sport that I love.
-- Benjamin from Puerto Rico
Hey Benjamin.
More and more, I hope it’s becoming clear that the problems with boxing are almost universally tied to the sport’s promoters and to the promoters’ ties to shady business practices of the past, as well as their penchant for taking quick payouts at the expense of the sport’s long-term good.
I can hear where people might say, “well, Hearn was working to secure the Serrano-Taylor fight.” Yeah, but-- it was at the expense of the fighter. And, realistically, any self-respecting world class fighter with decent management is going to walk away from the bullying and coercion, thereby making “big” fight tougher to make.
Promoters do play a role in the sport, but it’s not healthy for them to have so much power and so much influence on so many aspects of the game. They should be there to promote the events, not serve as second manager to the fighters and lone liaison between network and fighter. They should have a voice, but not THE voice, especially considering that, these days, the ones generally footing the bill at the highest level are the networks.
Crawford is Too Much
Paul,
I hope that you’re doing well. I enjoy and appreciate the work that you do for the boxing community. I particular liked the Underground column this week and especially liked your quote regarding Manny Pacquiao and Terrence Crawford, “Crawford would beat the adobo and lechon out of him and retire him in a way he most definitely did not want to be retired. It’s just a bad matchup for the Filipino icon.” I like Manny a lot and he’s had a great career (also, I think Manny may have switched to a vegan lifestyle but your commentary was still on point). I’m not sure if Manny has officially failed PED tests, but speculation has always been rampant regarding his rise through the 108 – 154 weight classes. I’m in total agreement that Crawford would mostly likely stop Manny in brutal fashion and would beat any foreign substances out of his body. The point that I’d like to make is Crawford is the most difficult matchup for any top 5 welterweight. Stepping in the ring with Crawford is like fighting two different guys since he’s a switch hitter. Here’s my point:
Keith Turman has the gift for gab and screamed send a contract and his asking price is $10MM, which means he’s all talk and doesn’t want the fight. Keith made around $8MM on PPV for his fight against Manny. Now he’s berating Crawford saying he isn’t a difficult fight. Keith has legs and would present a challenge but he’s not on Crawford’s level.
Errol Spence has been recorded saying he’s taking the easy route, which translate to he doesn’t want that fight against Crawford. Errol will use an excuse that he’s outgrown the weight to avoid Crawford. Errol has even alluded to pursuing Canelo which is a joke. I speculate that Errol is willing to accept a Canelo beating because the money might be better than a beating from Crawford which would be a blow to his fan boy YouTube supporters.
Shawn Porter has said he’d fight Crawford, talk is cheap since all he needs to do is activate his WBO mandatory status and he hasn’t done so. Shawn Porter is a guy that I personally like but it’s a bad matchup. See Jeff Horn’s head first style and then picture Shawn taking that same beating.
Danny Garcia is not a top flight 147 and he’s going up to 154 to be a punching bag. The DSG that fought Errol, in my opinion Bud would have stopped him in under 9 rounds.
Vergil Ortiz, a top 10 youngster, has said he’d fight Crawford. The beating that Vergil would receive at this point in his career would be career damaging and similar to a Mayweather/Gatti or Trinidad/Vargas.
If the Manny fight doesn’t materialize, I can see Crawford possibly taking one more fight at 147 and then going to 154 for a unified Jermell Charlo/Brian Castano winner (if it happens). I’d love to read your thoughts.
Thanks!
-- Meredith Miller
Hey Meredith.
It’s risk vs. reward. Boxing matchmaking, in general, is all about risk vs. reward.
There’s not much I can add to what you’ve written already. It’s just not good business to reach out and take on Crawford and risk losing so much against someone who’s not part of your team. And, unfortunately, the business is in a place right now where there’s just not all that much more money in Crawford-Spence, for example, than Spence-Porter or Spence-Garcia. I don’t think anyone is “afraid” or “ducking,” it’s just business. Why take a risky fight against Crawford, who could just pick up and leave after taking everything away from you, when you can keep everything “in house,” make good money, and ensure that you have a steady stream of good paydays in your future? If the shoe were on the other foot and Spence was on the outside looking in with Crawford having so many other options, I guarantee you that we’d be talking about why Crawford is ducking Spence.
The solution?
Life isn’t fair. Crawford will have to embrace free agency when his Top Rank contract is up and wander over to the PBC side of the fence or move up in weight where his lack of size may present the kind of vulnerability that entices the main stage fighters into giving him a go.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.