Jaron "Boots" Ennis Might Return Home in July

IBF welterweight champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis is potentially gearing up for a homecoming in July, courtesy of a lucrative proposition from Matchroom. Eddie Hearn and his team have put forth an impressive $3.9 million bid for Ennis' mandated title defense against Cody Crowley.

Ennis, boasting an unblemished record of 31 wins with 28 knockouts, is poised to defend his 147-pound title for the first time. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia recently inked a multi-fight deal with Matchroom, shifting from his previous platform at Showtime, which halted sports programming at the close of last year. With this new alliance, Ennis aims to carve out a niche as a boxing attraction in Philadelphia, a city steeped in boxing lore and once a vibrant hub for the sport.

In the proposed bout, Ennis stands to reap the rewards of an 85/15 split, potentially pocketing a hefty $3.315 million. Conversely, Crowley, with a record of 22 wins and 9 knockouts, would secure $585,000—a marked increase from his potential earnings in a WBC title eliminator against Souleymane Cissokho.

Crowley's willingness to accept the challenge remains uncertain, given his prior reluctance to face Ennis and his relatively subdued activity since his 2021 triumph over Kudratillo Abdudakhorov. However, should Crowley commit, Eddie Hearn envisions staging the showdown in Philadelphia—a poignant return for "Boots" to his hometown, marking his first appearance since his 2018 victory over Raymond Serrano. It presents a promising opportunity for Ennis to rebound following his lengthiest professional hiatus.