Boxing
'Happily retired!' - Crawford shoots down super-bout with American star
Mason vs. Bell on DAZN subscription - Saturday
Terence Crawford insists he remains "happily retired" as speculation over a super-bout with Jaron Ennis continues to mount.
'Bud' hung up his gloves last December after sweeping the super-middleweight division with a wide win over Canelo Alvarez.
Since then, the pound-for-pound star has been courted for a reversal, with several major names attempting to tempt him back.
Ennis, who dethroned Xander Zayas on Saturday night at super-welterweight, is one such name - but Crawford isn't budging.
Zayas vs. Ennis: Fight Night Raw
Watch: How this epic fight unfolded from behind the scenes
"[He] is a tremendous talent, and no walk in the park for anyone," the Nebraska native told The PorterWay Podcast when asked.
"He's a threat to anyone that he steps foot in the ring with. He's got tremendous speed, he's got great power, defense, reflexes.
"But I’m ten steps ahead of him in smarts. That’s where he’ll get in trouble. I can see the holes in his game and I can see the openings
"Everybody knows the competitive nature of myself. But I don't worry. I’m happily retired. It’s [his] era. I hope he takes it to the extreme.”
Is Crawford truly out of the game?
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Terence Crawford caught plenty unawares last year when he confirmed it was the end of the road for a glittering professional career.
To be fair, there was very little left for the star to prove. Super-middleweight felt like the limit of his powers, having vaulted divisions.
But powerbrokers are determined to tempt him back and tackle a new generation of pound-for-pound stars, in some lucrative bouts.
For now, Crawford - who has amassed plenty of paydays to go with those victories - remains content to sit on the sidelines and opine.
If there is to be a change of heart, it will not be now. Yet boxing is a mercurial sport, often given to strange turns of fate. Who knows?
Joshua vs. Prenga - exclusively on DAZN PPV
Watch Anthony Joshua's hugely anticipated return to the ring versus Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25 only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Itauma vs. Hrgovic and Canelo vs. Mbilli PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
