Crawford issues 'Boots' challenge as star plots next move

The unified super welterweight WBA/WBO world champion first shared his next move, saying he’s close to further unifying with IBF titleholder Josh Kelly and adding he’s confident the bout happens before the end of the year.

Well, to that, Crawford, the retired pound-for-pound king, mentioned names that ‘Boots’ would impress him more by fighting.

“If you step on [Sebastian] Fundora, I’ll give you your props,” Crawford told Ennis directly. “If you step on somebody like Vergil [Ortiz], I’ll give you your props. Josh Kelly has already been knocked out by a person you knocked out.”

To the latter, Crawford is referring to David Avanesyan who stopped Kelly in their February 2021 fight, representing the lone blemish on Kelly’s ledger of 19-1-1 with 9 KOs. The undefeated Ennis (36-0, 32 KOs) stopped Avanesyan in July 2024.

---

'This is bigger than sport'

Hearn interviews Taylor ahead of Croke Park farewell

SUBSCRIBE NOW: Watch Katie Taylor's farewell fight on DAZN

---

The Crawford-Ennis conversation also had the latter standing on his comment of saying ‘Bud’ would be “easy work” if the two ever clashed. Ennis clarified that he didn’t mean it as disrespect, but more of an indicator of supreme belief he has in himself.

To that notion, Crawford made sure to offer Ennis a stinging retort of his own.

“You know what I would have did to you if you got hurt in that last fight,” Crawford said before adding, “step, step, step.”

Crawford is referring to Xander Zayas catching Ennis with flush shots in the third round of their June fight before 'Boots' imposed his will, sealing the three-knockdown performance with a seventh-round TKO.

Watch Taylor vs. Pili on DAZN

Katie Taylor looks to brings her glittering career to a glorious end at Croke Park against Flora Pili this Saturday, September 5.

Watch exclusively on DAZN with a subscription. For more information, pricing and to buy, click here.