Blair Cobbs Calls Out the Lack Of Champions on Boots’ Resume
In the present day reconfiguration of the welterweight division, no true proven top dog has emerged. Many have unofficially crowned IBF 147-pound champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (32-0, 29 KO’s) with that distinction. There is no doubt that he passes the eye test and has the verbal sign-off by countless current and retired fighters. Yet, Ennis, 27, still doesn’t have the marquee fight to cement this claim. In this regard, the boisterous and long-time welterweight resident Blair “The Flair” Cobbs (17-1-1, 10 KO’s) believes that he is the man to beat, if going according to resumes.
In a recent Q&A on Mills City Boxing, Cobbs made it clear that he believes that the crown should be reserved for his head.
“Blair Cobbs is the only fighter of the new generation that’s fought a name! That’s why Brian Norman’s father wants to get the fight with me, because I’m a name now. I can tell you someone who hasn’t fought a name: Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis! He hasn’t fought a name. How many ex-champions did he really fight? Did he earn his fucking goddamn championship?! . . .Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is not a name!”
FROM ASHY TO CLASSY
Technically, Blair, 34, has been making noise in the division for a longer period of time than Ennis. Cobbs has been competing in the division as far back as 2013. Unfortunately for The Flair however, during a long stretch of that time, he was viewed as something of a sideshow act.
There was not much known about him to the common fan and his comical charm and trademark “wooo”, a quirk that he lifted from legendary wrestler Ric Flair, gave many the impression that he was not serious. For some though, this is beginning to change. His recent victories over Maurice Hooker and Adrien Broner, along with the undeniable pop in his shots, have injected a new validity into his name.
People will certainly be quick to say that Broner and Hooker were well past their prime years at the point that Cobbs got them. Yet, like it or not, Boots still doesn’t have any scalps that carry the same notoriety in his collection. And even if Broner was more advanced, The Flair still knocked him down – something only Marcos Maidana can claim.
NAMES THAT PEOPLE KNOW
Going a step further, Ennis and his team were just tangled up in a very public negotiation skirmish with WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. This potential unification was an enticing proposition for many fans, even though Norman is just being introduced to the “casual” crowds, himself. Regardless of this, talks eventually unraveled over finances. Yet, said to say, Cobbs is a far better known commodity than Norman.
Presently, it’d be hard to argue that there are any other 147-pounders outside of Boots more widely recognized than Blair Cobbs in the American market. For this reason, Cobbs really is a respectable scalp for anyone looking to make a name in the division. So it will be interesting to see if anyone, including Boots, aims to take advantage of The Flair’s amply advertised persona and recent hot streak.
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