Eddie Hearn wants to see Terence Crawford face Jaron Ennis in 2026.
Crawford has yet to commit to his next move in the sport and is pondering his future after becoming undisputed 168lbs champion with victory over Canelo Alvarez.
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Crawford has completed it all in boxing and it is unclear if he will choose to continue fightingCredit: Getty
He has teased both retirement from the sport and potential fights at 160lbs, or whatever route will provide any life-changing financial incentive.
The likes of middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly and Carlos Adames have offered to step in with Crawford in recent weeks.
But now it is a familiar face who wants to take on Crawford, several years after the pair were originally ordered to face each other.
Eddie Hearn wants his charge Jaron Ennis, who has been tipped as a future pound-for-pound king in the sport, to step in with Crawford imminently.
He said: “For me, that is a fight for the ages, against (Terence) Crawford.
“But, we have to prove ourselves — look, Terence is only going to fight ‘Boots’ if there’s loads of money on the line.
“Because he knows how good Ennis is, and he’s not gonna fight anymore, unless it’s for a lot of money.
“He has to earn his shot against Crawford, but that is the fight in nine to 12 months time — three fights down the line.”
Ennis’ would arguably be the biggest remaining test on the table for Crawford within the three weight classes he is open to competing in.
Will Terence Crawford vs Jaron Ennis actually happen?
Crawford vs Ennis seems unlikely given a bout previously failed to materialise.
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Ennis has wanted to face Crawford for several years and will remain hopeful he can lure him into a meetingCredit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
In July 2023 while both at 147lbs, Crawford was ordered to face ‘Boots’ for the IBF title by the governing body, but the bout didn’t happen.
Crawford’s team reportedly suggested they’d be unable to fight Ennis, and the showdown remained on ice with the champion stripped of his title.
‘Bud’ later suggested Ennis had been given opportunities to bring the clash to life but had turned them down.
A huge all-American clash would be huge for the sport, but Ennis is yet to make the same splash as Crawford commercially despite his elite skills.
Crawford has also already captured a world title belt at 154lbs, where Ennis will debut this weekend against Uisma Lima.
So it is deemed more likely that he will choose to return at 160lbs, with the chance to make further history more attractive.