Crawford: Ortiz stops Ennis if he gets hit

will knock out Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis if the unified super-welterweight champion gets caught clean. Crawford laid out the scenario on Ariel Helwani’s show after Ennis’s seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas to claim the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles. where he absorbed heavy early shots before rallying.

Ortiz, a 27-0-0 finisher with 22 knockouts, has never been stopped and has brutalized opponents like Samuel Vargas and Roberto Ortiz. His resume includes wins over former world champions and a reputation for brutal body shots and relentless pressure. Ennis, 34-0-0, relies on sharp combinations and a compact jab but has shown vulnerability when hurt, as seen against Spence.

The stylistic matchup creates a high-variance equation that favors the puncher. Ennis prefers to operate at mid-range, using his athleticism to slip and counter, but Ortiz’s pressure cuts off the ring and forces exchanges in tight quarters. Crawford’s assessment highlights a specific tactical danger: Ennis often relies on his chin to recover from mistakes, a strategy that fails catastrophically against a heavy-handed volume attacker like Ortiz.

This isn't just about power; it is about the geometry of the ring and the margin for error shrinking to zero. Beyond the physical matchup, the endorsement from boxing’s elite adds political pressure to make the bout. Crawford, who has navigated similar high-stakes unification battles, recognizes the financial and legacy potential of this clash.

The winner immediately becomes the undisputed face of the 154-pound division, potentially setting up a massive showdown with Crawford himself or other top contenders. The narrative has shifted from "who wants it" to "who survives it," turning a promotional standoff into a defining moment for the sport’s next generation. The fight’s path remains blocked by a legal dispute between Ortiz and Golden Boy Promotions.

Sources close to the camp say the impasse is nearing resolution, with Barclays Center in Brooklyn the expected venue once contracts are signed. Robert Garcia, Ortiz’s manager, has publicly pushed for the fight, framing it as a marquee event for the welterweight division. ‘Ortiz is a murderous puncher.

’ The Ennis-Ortiz dynamic mirrors past divisional showdowns where pressure fighters exposed counterpunchers’ limitations. Consider Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin in 2017: Golovkin’s compact, in-and-out style was neutralized by Canelo’s ability to crowd and disrupt timing.

Ortiz’s game plan isn’t just about volume; it’s about compressing the space where Ennis thrives. Ennis’s 2022 win over Spence showed he can adapt mid-fight, but Ortiz’s relentless forward pressure doesn’t allow for the same breathing room. The fight could hinge on whether Ennis can shorten his combinations or Ortiz can land the first big shot in a high-leverage exchange.

Historically, fighters who rely on reflexive comebacks—like Ennis—often hit a ceiling against elite pressure fighters. Look at Adrien Broner’s struggles against Shawn Porter in 2018: Broner’s late adjustments couldn’t overcome Porter’s volume and body work. Ortiz’s body-attack tendencies, combined with his ability to cut off the cage, force Ennis into a reactive posture.

The risk for Ennis isn’t just getting hurt; it’s being forced into a rhythm where Ortiz dictates the pace, turning Ennis’s strengths into liabilities. What’s next: The legal logjam is the final hurdle. Once contracts are inked, expect a rapid ramp-up: a press conference in Los Angeles or New York, a weigh-in spectacle in Brooklyn, and a fight-week narrative framing this as the division’s coronation.

Crawford’s endorsement alone could push pay-per-view numbers north of 500,000, setting up a potential trilogy or a super-fight with the winner facing unified welterweight king Errol Spence Jr. The clock is ticking for Ennis to prove he’s more than a durable brawler—and for Ortiz to silence doubters who question if his power translates to the highest level. Read at Boxing News (UK)