Dsalita Eddie Hearn, the promoter of IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, is facing a tough decision after Ennis’ scheduled opponent, Cody Crowley, failed his pre-fight eye exam and had to withdraw from their July 13th fight at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
This is a major setback for the 26-year-old Ennis, who has been out of the ring for eleven months since July 2023. Without an opponent for his upcoming fight, Ennis’s hopes of staying active and fighting three times a year seems unlikely to happen this year.
Fans on social media have suggested that Vergil Ortiz could be a potential replacement for Crowley, but he can’t make the 147-pound weight limit. Ennis’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, must decide whether to find a quick replacement or reschedule the fight for a later date.
Crowley’s recent eye surgery should have been a warning sign for promoters not to use him for the upcoming fight. With Crowley out, fans may push for Terence Crawford to return to the welterweight division to face Ennis, but it is unlikely to happen as Crawford is scheduled to fight against Israil Madrimov on August 3rd.
At nearly 37 years old, Crawford is not likely to take on a risky fight against a young talent like Ennis. Despite the setback, Ennis remains eager to get back in the ring and showcase his skills to boxing fans.
