Hall of Fame boxer and respected analyst Tim Bradley has voiced a compelling new direction for boxing, calling on undefeated sensation Jaron "Boots" Ennis to bypass immediate division consolidation and instead set his sights directly on a high-stakes showdown with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
The recommendation from the former multi-division world champion arrives amid a shifting landscape at the top tiers of the sport, characterized by recent world title changes, high-profile retirements, and ongoing speculation regarding future legacy-defining bouts.
Canelo Alvarez recently reclaimed a portion of his status at the top of the sport last month by securing a decisive unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli. That successful outing marked Canelo’s first time back inside the ring since suffering a comprehensive points defeat to Terence "Bud" Crawford. In that much-anticipated encounter, Alvarez surrendered his undisputed super-middleweight crown to Crawford, a devastating loss that temporarily stripped the Mexican icon of his divisional supremacy.
For Crawford, the career-defining victory over Alvarez served as the ultimate pinnacle of an illustrious journey. Just a few months after their September showdown, Crawford opted to officially announce his retirement from the sport, walking away from boxing while sitting firmly atop the pound-for-pound throne.
Yet, despite Crawford’s definitive decision to hang up the gloves and step away from active competition, Canelo Alvarez remains uniquely focused on the past. Reports and public statements indicate that the Mexican star is deeply determined to secure a lucrative rematch with the retired American legend in 2027, hoping to avenge the lone blemish of that chapter of his career and reclaim his absolute standing.
According to Tim Bradley, however, that pursuit may be a miscalculation in terms of legacy and competition. Instead of waiting or lobbying for a rematch against a retired fighter, Bradley believes Alvarez would be far wiser to target a marquee showdown with Jaron "Boots" Ennis. At the same time, Bradley argues that the matchup offers an even greater prize for Ennis, presenting a golden opportunity to emulate Crawford’s historic achievements.
Ennis has continued to cement his reputation as one of the most dangerous and avoided operators in the sport. The unbeaten 29-year-old further burnished his credentials in June by delivering a masterclass performance against Xander Zayas, stopping his opponent in the seventh round to capture the WBO and WBA super-welterweight titles. With that statement victory, Ennis officially established himself as a two-division unified champion.
Having firmly conquered the summit of the super-welterweight division, Ennis has made no secret of his long-term ambitions. The American star is currently gunning for the undisputed crown at 154 pounds, with fellow world champions Sebastian Fundora and Josh Kelly standing directly in his way of complete divisional glory. Securing bouts against those titleholders would normally represent the standard path for an elite champion looking to clean out his weight class.
However, speaking directly to fans and analysts on his widely followed YouTube channel, Bradley urged Ennis to take a page straight out of Terence Crawford’s playbook. Rather than engaging in a prolonged, grinding campaign to unify the 154-pound division, Bradley suggested that Ennis should boldly jump up two weight classes—much like Crawford did when moving up to challenge Alvarez—to face the Mexican icon at super-middleweight.
By doing so, Bradley argues, Ennis could bypass traditional divisional politics, bypass the remaining champions at super-welterweight, and immediately place himself in the upper echelon of boxing royalty by dethroning Alvarez on the grandest stage possible.
"Imma tell ‘Boots’ this: ‘Boots’, fight Canelo. Fight Canelo before he goes," Bradley passionately declared on his channel.
Outlining the strategic benefits of the bout for both fighters, Bradley continued to map out a scenario where Alvarez could attempt to satisfy his competitive yearnings while Ennis established his legendary status once and for all.
"Canelo, you want that Crawford rematch? Go ahead and beat up on ‘Boots’. Get ‘Boots’ into the ring," Bradley added.
For Ennis, a victory over a fighter of Canelo’s historical stature would instantly rewrite the narrative of his career, transforming him from a dominant divisional titlist into a generational superstar capable of dictating terms at the highest level of the sport.
"Once ‘Boots’ handles that, ‘Boots’ can come to the table and be like: ‘I’m like Floyd Mayweather and I’m like Terence Crawford. I beat Canelo Alvarez. I can sit at the table with y’all,’" Bradley explained.
As Bradley’s analysis highlights, the potential super-middleweight clash may ultimately make considerably more sense for Ennis than it does for Alvarez. For the younger, undefeated American, a challenge of this magnitude represents the ultimate fast-track to immortality, offering the chance to secure a signature win that defines an era. Conversely, Alvarez—who remains protective of his legacy and cautious about taking on high-risk, high-reward opponents who possess youth, speed, and immense punching power—may find himself increasingly reluctant to step into the ring with the formidable 29-year-old.
