Derek “Bozy” Ennis, the father and head trainer of Jaron “Boots” Ennis, says his team spent years attempting to secure high-profile bouts against Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., and Keith Thurman before eventually moving up to the 154-pound division.
The disclosure comes as Jaron Ennis, the current IBF welterweight champion, prepares to challenge Xander Zayas for the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles on Saturday night, June 27, 2026, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Bozy Ennis Clarifies the Terence Crawford Contract Dispute
Bozy Ennis explicitly rejected claims that his son avoided top talent, insisting instead that the elite names of the welterweight landscape were the ones who declined the risk.
The frustration within the Ennis camp stems from a lengthy period being the “odd man out” in a stalled 147-pound division. While Jaron Ennis eventually unified the WBA, IBF, and Ring magazine welterweight titles in April 2025, his path to undisputed status was frequently blocked by divisional politics and massive demands from veteran champions.
Now campaigning at junior middleweight, the 28-year-old Philadelphia native is looking to cement his legacy in a second weight class after years of what his father describes as being “frozen out” by the sport’s biggest stars.
One of the most persistent narratives in the sport involves the failed negotiations between Jaron Ennis and Terence Crawford. While Crawford has previously claimed that Ennis was given a chance to fight him but declined, Bozy Ennis offered a specific rebuttal involving the promotional entity BLK Prime.
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He explained that those representatives reached out while Team Ennis was still aligned with Showtime and executive Stephen Espinoza, creating a conflict of interest that was never resolved by the Crawford camp.
Bozy Ennis noted that he directed the BLK Prime representatives to speak with Stephen Espinoza to handle the legalities, but a formal offer never followed that conversation. “You got to talk to Espinoza because that’s who we with,” Bozy said, clarifying that “y’all never sent no contract or nothing.”
This stalemate eventually led the IBF to elevate Jaron Ennis to full champion status after Terence Crawford moved toward other goals rather than facing his mandatory challenger.
The situation highlights the complex business hurdles that often prevent fans from seeing the best fight the best. Similar boxing match delays by contract talks have been seen in heavy-hitting divisions, frequently leaving mandatory challengers sitting on the sidelines while marquee names pursue more lucrative exhibitions or long-delayed rivalries.
The Keith Thurman Ten Million Dollar Demand
According to Bozy Ennis, the primary hurdle in securing a fight with former champion Keith “One Time” Thurman was financial. Bozy revealed that Thurman reportedly demanded a $10 million purse to step into the ring with his son.
The trainer questioned the logic of this figure, pointing out that Thurman had not earned that amount even when he faced legendary figures like Manny Pacquiao. For the Ennis camp, this was a clear example of a veteran pricing himself out of a dangerous matchup.
Bozy Ennis confirmed that Stephen Espinoza had personally offered Thurman the fight, but Thurman declined to move forward with the deal. The perception was that Thurman was holding out for a major payday against Errol Spence Jr., choosing to avoid the high risk and perceived low reward of a clash with “Boots.”
“Why would you want $10 million to fight Boots?” Bozy remarked, adding that he knew they would not only beat Thurman but stop him if the fight had materialized.
Errol Spence Jr and the Pursuit of Welterweight Gold
The pursuit of Errol Spence Jr. was equally grueling for the Ennis team. As the unified champion at 147 pounds, Spence was under a 120-day deadline to face Ennis or risk being stripped of his IBF belt.
However, the allure of the undisputed mega-fight between Spence and Crawford in 2023 took precedence, leaving Jaron Ennis in a holding pattern as the “interim” titleholder. This period of stagnation is common when major titles are tied up in multi-belt unifications, often leaving younger contenders in limbo.
Rather than continuing to wait for the 147-pound veterans to finish their business, Team Ennis made the tactical decision to jump to 154 pounds. This move allows them to target active champions who are willing to defend their straps.
The shift in weight classes is a standard move for dominant fighters who find their titles and opportunities limited by divisional logjams or aging gatekeepers who refuse to sign contracts.
Future Targets in the Junior Middleweight Division
- Xander Zayas: The immediate target for “Boots” as he looks to capture the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles this Friday night.
- Sebastian Fundora: Specifically identified by Bozy Ennis as “the one you gotta beat” in the 154-pound division.
- Vergil Ortiz Jr.: A potential future opponent that would represent a significant clash of power and skill in a new weight class.
Challenging Xander Zayas at the Barclays Center
The upcoming title fight against Xander Zayas at the Barclays Center represents the marquee opportunity Jaron Ennis has been chasing. Zayas is a highly regarded Puerto Rican star, but Bozy Ennis remains adamant that his son possesses a physical edge that cannot be matched.
Bozy has publicly stated that Jaron is “faster and stronger than Terence Crawford,” and he expects this superiority to be evident the moment the bell rings in Brooklyn.
A victory over Zayas would not only earn Ennis another world title in a second weight class but also solidify his standing as a pound-for-pound elite. The move to junior middleweight was a calculated gamble to escape the politics of the welterweight division.
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If Ennis can dispatch Zayas convincingly, the calls for unifications against the likes of Sebastian Fundora or Vergil Ortiz Jr. will likely become impossible for promoters to ignore.
For the Ennis family, the fight is a chance to move past the frustrations of the last few years. Bozy Ennis makes it clear that they are no longer picking out specific names like Crawford or Spence; they are now focused entirely on who has the belts.
By pursuing champions instead of chasing legacies, “Boots” Ennis intends to force the hand of any fighter currently holding gold at 154 pounds, ensuring the “Frozen Out” era of his career is firmly in the past.
