Comments Thread For: Chris Algieri?s School of Thought: Jaron ?Boots? Ennis is on the cusp of greatness

[Oregonian]

As long as Boots is the favorite, how does he become great? He can beat all the Karens and Stans and all he'll get is criticism. He'll age out talking about not getting any respect. Everyone has to step up to fight him, but he wont step up.

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Step up? Boots just unified two belts with two more to go.
Why didn’t Hagler step up? Why didn’t Spence step up after winning his 2nd belt? Why doesn’t Beterbiev step to Heavyweight?

Boots will eventually go to 154. He’s 27 and makes 147 easy. What’s the rush?

[El_Feroz99]

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Step up? Boots just unified two belts with two more to go.
Why didn’t Hagler step up? Why didn’t Spence step up after winning his 2nd belt? Why doesn’t Beterbiev step to Heavyweight?

Boots will eventually go to 154. He’s 27 and makes 147 easy. What’s the rush?

Are there some guys that need to move up...for sure. Is that boots right now...no. He can make the weight even with the ibf 10lbs so who cares. Is he better without the rule, absolutely, but so are most.

I think if he's comfortable at the weight he may get some great fights sooner than a lot think. Haney, Garcia, and Teo all likely coming up just to name a few. Division will likely be hot very soon. Wouldn't be too bad to control the belts and have all those names have to go through him no?

I'm no super fan or anything...his career has been annoyingly slow. But he looked good and I think has some big fights coming.

[Butt stuff]

Because thats where hes at his best, he should be allowed to stay at the weight he performs his best at and performs his best. Why move up to a higher weight where he is not as good just to be a relatively lesser fighter? So he can test how good he is when he's not at his best?

Its akin to asking a prime Michael Jordan to wear ankle weights to really prove himself.

I see what you’re saying but not quite an apt comparison.

It would be more like a prime Michael Jordan playing in a lesser league (lower weight class) and killing it there, instead of moving up to the NBA and going up against talented players at his level (natural weight class for Boots).

[Corelone]

You have to overcome odds to be great. Henry Armstrong was great. Feather, light, and welter champ at the same time. 101 KOs. Only one champ per division, no Jrs or Super weights. 15 rounds, same day weigh in. Great is a low achievement these days.

[Muchen]

I thought it was a good article and I agree with the main points. He will beat up the remaining champions at 147 and his first real challenge will be at 154 because for the first time he will be fighting guys his own size who can punch. Boots can be hit cleanly and at 154 those shots will hurt, so let's see what happens when he fights the likes of Ortiz and Murtazaliev.

He rolls with punches so they don’t have the same impact. Boots will also be stronger at 154. I think Ortiz’s style is perfect for Boots. We’ll see who emerges as the top dog at 154, but Boots’ skill set is there and he passes the eye test.

[Liondw]

Ennis has got some really impressive punching power. It's not Thomas Hearns type power, but it's potent enough mixed.

The mix of hand speed, foot work and stance switching makes him tough to beat. He does get hit a few clean shots, which would be bad for him if he fought Crawford or Canelo.

[Corelone]

The longer Boots waits to move up, the harder its going to be. There isnt any greatness beating Tank leavings. 147 is weak. Think about it, the guys Boots could beat today might be replaced by someone fresher by the time Boots is forced to move up.

[DeeMoney]

I see what you’re saying but not quite an apt comparison.

It would be more like a prime Michael Jordan playing in a lesser league (lower weight class) and killing it there, instead of moving up to the NBA and going up against talented players at his level (natural weight class for Boots).

See, I don't view that analogy as apt, weight classes arent different leagues, they werent made becasue talent is different, they were made because fighters have different sizes. Fighters should fight in whichever weight class they can make and be their relative best at.

That being written, I feel their should be rehydration clauses, and appreciate that fighters have to make specific weights at markers leading up to the fight- to keep everything equal as far as weight goes. But in the end, if a fighter can make a given weight, and thats where they are their most dominant, let them dominate.

[Gemini Boxing]

"As with Terence Crawford and Floyd Mayweather before him, Ennis ought to be considered the finest welterweight of his era. But they had the rivals they needed to prove their greatness – Ennis doesn’t have the opposition at 147lbs who can enhance his legacy."

So why stay? Time to move on!

Ennis beating Avanesyan, Chukhadzhian & Stanionis does not make him the finest Welterweight of his era

His era began on Saturday - he now has to carve out a career involving consistent victories iver rhe established best contemders to his throne

After the Stanionis performance, he has earned the No.1 position - but he has lucrative options over the next year

Belt holders Norman.Jr & Barrios
Contenders Giyasov & Crocker/Donavan
Superstars Haney, Garcia & Teo

[Bronx2245]

Because thats where hes at his best, he should be allowed to stay at the weight he performs his best at and performs his best. Why move up to a higher weight where he is not as good just to be a relatively lesser fighter? So he can test how good he is when he's not at his best?

Its akin to asking a prime Michael Jordan to wear ankle weights to really prove himself.

Jordan plays basketball, so how about we compare to him to ATG Boxers? Let's start with Leonard and Hearns. They started at WW too. Then they moved up and continued to win! How about Duran, Whitaker, Jones, and Mayweather? Yup, all moved up from their starting weight classes, and continued win. So if Boots stays at WW, and fights the likes of Stanionis, Barrios, Norman, and Glasyov, he can never become an ATG! Simple as that!