Has Keith Thurman Received Any Paperwork From Team Ennis?
As reported by 3Kings Boxing, Keith “One Time” Thurman (30-1, 22 KO’s) recently expressed his willingness to face Jaron “Boots” Ennis (29-0, 27 KO’s). The one-time WBA 147-pound champion expressed these thoughts during a sit-down on the Last Stand Podcast. However, there was the one stipulation stating that Team Ennis would have to present the fight to him as he was unwilling to kick things off. Presuming that Boots and crew completed this function, One Time assured that he would sign the paperwork lickety-split.
THE IRON IS HOT!
Assuming that Team Ennis did not get their lawyers on the job, now might just be the perfect time. For the last several weeks, the boxing world has waited with baited breath to hear the official announcement of WBA, IBF and WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr versus Terence Crawford. After years of pining for his match, the two were deeper in negotiations than ever before. Then, quite unexpectedly, Crawford withdrew from the talks and signed a fight with David Avanesyan.
As result, the rest of the welterweight elite are jockeying for position to face Spence who clearly needs a dance partner. Technically speaking, Thurman is leading that pack due to his #1 (WBC) ranking. One Time is also #3 (WBO), #3 (WBA) and #6 (IBF), but it’s the WBC standing that has him pounding on Spence’s door. With Thurman’s well recognized name, exciting style and ample gas left in the tank, one might think that making this fight would be easy to sign. Think again!
PUT UP OR SHUT UP
When Errol Spence was in Ennis’s position and trying to break into the upper levels of the division, Thurman was the WBA champion. Yet, rather than invite a fight with the budding star, One Time insisted that The Truth had to do more and he was uninterested in a duel. For that consistent snubbing, One Time has earned the eternal scorn of Spence. This is all said to say that despite his political standing, The Truth is likely to avoid a fight with Thurman at all costs.
If that turns out to be the case, now would be the perfect time for Team Ennis to call One Time to task for his statement. Once he has a contract in hand, he would either have to eat his words or face the music. Not only would this be a great fight, it would almost guarantee the winner a shot at Spence. This is because while Thurman is the #1 (WBC) ranked fighter to face The Truth, Ennis is ranked #1 (IBF), #2 (WBA), #2 (WBO) and #3 (WBC). Therefore the winner would likely be ranked #1 the IBF and WBC. So let’s just hope that that paperwork is on the way right now! Either way, 3Kings Boxing will be here to report the news; no matter how good, bad or ugly!
By: Bakari Simpson
