TerenceEddie Hearn suspects Terence Crawford would make a U-turn on his retirement for the chance to become a four-division undisputed king.
The 39-year-old announced his exit from the sport last December, just a few months after moving up two weight classes and unanimously outpointing Canelo Alvarez.
In doing so, he made history by becoming the first male three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era, while Claressa Shields was the first woman to do so around seven months earlier.
Having cemented his legacy, Crawford then chose to retire after being linked to an immediate rematch with Canelo, who remains eager to exact his revenge at 168lbs.
Rather than going over old ground, though, Matchroom promoter Hearn feels Crawford would be more enticed by an undisputed clash with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
For that to happen, Ennis must first dethrone IBF champion Josh Kelly on February 27, before colliding with his WBC counterpart, Sebastian Fundora, for all four major belts at 154lbs.
Then, if he dethrones Fundora, Hearn has told IFL TV that he believes the 29-year-old, who currently holds the WBO and WBA titles, would become a far more realistic opponent for Crawford.
“If Boots wins [against Kelly], he’ll fight Fundora. He’ll beat Fundora; he’ll be undisputed. I think he fights Crawford after that. I think [Crawford] wants to come back.
“I don’t think Boots is at the top of his list. But if Boots became undisputed, how big’s that fight?”
Indeed, Crawford is unlikely to come out of retirement, and may not do so anyway, unless there is a financial and history-making incentive.
