Notebook: Turki Alalshikh has eye on making Crawford-Ennis
Muratalla overcomes tough test from Farmer; Segawa pulls big upset; 2 WBA titleholders crowned; Quick hits; Show and tell
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Following IBF welterweight titlist Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ one-sided fifth-round knockout of David Avanesyan to retain the belt in his first defense on Saturday night in a Philadelphia homecoming bout, he and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said they would love for Ennis to face pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford.
Crawford first is moving up to junior middleweight to challenge the Hearn-promoted Israil Madrimov for his WBA title on a Riyadh Season card on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles. Hearn said he believes Madrimov will win, but if he doesn’t, he’d like to make Crawford-Ennis, a fight Ennis also said he wants.
It’s a fight that has support from a man who can make it happen if it comes down to money — Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, who oversees the country’s General Entertainment Authority and controls its massive boxing budget. He is bankrolling Crawford-Madrimov and does a lot of business with Hearn.
After Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs), 27, won on Saturday, he voiced his interest in the bout.
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