Eddie Hearn Has The Attraction, Now He Needs Terence Crawford To Make Boots Ennis A Superstar

Hearn has finally built a genuine attraction on American soil, but the job is only half done. To turn Ennis into a bona fide superstar, he needs a signature victory over one of boxing’s modern greats, and there is no bigger name available than Crawford.

The challenge is convincing Crawford to come back.

The 38-year-old retired earlier this year after defeating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion, ending a career that also included a competitive victory over Israil Madrimov. With little left to prove and financial security already in place, Crawford has given no indication that he intends to return.

If Hearn wants the one victory that could transform Ennis into a crossover star overnight, Crawford is the obvious target.

A win over the unbeaten former five-division champion would launch Ennis into another tier, but that is also what makes the fight such a difficult one to make. Ennis represents a very different challenge from the opponents Crawford faced during the closing stage of his career. At 38, he would be facing a fighter in his athletic prime who combines elite speed, punching power, and relentless pressure over 12 rounds.

Hearn has the attraction, but persuading Crawford to risk his unbeaten legacy against boxing’s fastest-rising young champion may prove to be the toughest fight he ever tries to make. Until that hurdle is cleared, Ennis’ biggest opportunity to become the sport’s next mainstream superstar remains just out of reach.