Former two-weight world boxing champion Zab Judah has firmly dismissed the idea of a competitive bout taking place between Terence Crawford and Jaron "Boots" Ennis, a potential matchup that many pundits and fight fans view as one of the most intriguing and compelling encounters that could possibly be made in modern boxing.
For such a high-profile showdown to ever become a realistic possibility, Crawford would first need to step out of his current retirement and agree to enter the ring for his first competitive outing since September 2025. Back in that historic autumn, the pound-for-pound maestro pulled off a breathtaking feat by moving up two full weight divisions to challenge and dethrone Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez. In a masterclass of skill, timing, and ring IQ, Crawford outpointed Alvarez unanimously across the judges’ scorecards, capturing all four major world titles at 168 pounds.
Having already established himself as a dominant force lower down the scales, that victory cemented Crawford’s status as a three-weight undisputed champion—a rare and legendary achievement in the modern era of the sport. Just a few months after conquering the super-middleweight division, Crawford announced his retirement from professional boxing, effectively calling time on a stellar, Hall of Fame-worthy career that saw him clean out multiple divisions and leave an indelible mark on the sport’s history.
Despite hanging up his gloves, Crawford’s name has continuously been linked to high-stakes fantasy matchups, most notably against Jaron Ennis. Ennis has been on a relentless tear through the welterweight and super-welterweight ranks, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous and avoided punchers in the sport. Most recently, in June, Ennis delivered a statement performance by dethroning Xander Zayas via a dominant seventh-round stoppage.
That impressive victory elevated the American puncher to the status of a two-weight unified champion, as he successfully claimed the WBO and WBA world titles. With his sights firmly set on achieving greatness, Ennis’s next assignment is widely expected to be a major unification clash against IBF champion Josh Kelly, which is targeted for early 2027.
However, while the boxing public salivates at the prospect of a generational clash between Crawford and Ennis, veteran star Zab Judah has stepped forward to offer a starkly different perspective. Speaking in an interview with Fight Hub TV, the former two-weight world champion strongly urged Ennis to completely ignore the temptation of calling out Crawford and instead resume his laser-focused pursuit of undisputed status within his own natural weight classes.
Judah did not mince words when evaluating the hypothetical matchup, making it clear that he believes the skill gap between the two fighters remains far too wide for it to be a compelling or competitive spectacle for the fans.
"I don’t want to see it. I’d like to see Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis stay in his lane. Crawford is a class ahead of [Ennis]. [It’s] like being in the fifth grade and trying to mess with seventh graders," Judah explained during his interview with Fight Hub TV.
Elaborating on his analogy, the Brooklyn-born southpaw emphasized that fighters should focus on cleaning out their own respective divisions rather than chasing stylistic mismatches driven purely by fan hype and promotional pressure.
"That’s not your grade… stay in your class, with your guys, and dominate there. If you’re the greatest and the best there, so be it," Judah added, advising the younger champion to build his own lasting legacy by dominating the 154-pound division rather than attempting to leap straight into a battle with a retired pound-for-pound legend who has already proven his supremacy across multiple weight classes.
Judah’s advice points Ennis back toward the immediate roadmap that lies ahead of him in the super-welterweight division. Following his anticipated showdown with IBF champion Josh Kelly in January 2027, Ennis will have a golden opportunity to unify the major belts of the division.
Should he successfully navigate the test against Kelly, the path opens up for an even grander unification bout against WBC super-welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora. A potential collision with the towering Fundora would offer Ennis the chance to capture further gold and ultimately achieve his ultimate goal of becoming an undisputed champion at 154 pounds, a milestone that would cement his own place in boxing history without ever needing to coax Terence Crawford out of his well-earned retirement.
