A showdown between Terence Crawford and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is one of the most in-demand fights in the sport, despite Crawford’s retirement last December. Now, Richardson Hitchins has provided his prediction for the proposed fight, after sharing the ring with both men. 

Ennis is hoping to capture the undisputed super-welterweight world title within the next 12 months and such a triumph could convince Crawford into a return, as it would present him with the opportunity to become boxing’s first ever four-division undisputed champion.

Still, having cemented himself as one of boxing’s all-time greats and doing so with his undefeated record intact, fight fans are split as to whether they truly wish to see the 39-year-old risk his ‘0’ and face Ennis or not.

Speaking with Sean Zittel, former IBF super-lightweight world champion Hitchins admitted that Crawford is the only man to have ever gotten the better of him in sparring.

“No guy that I have ever sparred, no guy touched me up or harmed me or made me feel like I got beat up in a boxing ring, only Terence Crawford and I was 17 years old, he was the 140lb undisputed champ. I wasn’t even pro yet.”

Hitchins, who lost to Ennis in the 2015 Youth National Championships and 2015 National Golden Gloves as an amateur, went on to predict that Crawford would trump Ennis, making an intriguing comparison between the Omaha southpaw and Ukraine’s Karen Chukhadzhian, who Ennis has twice defeated.

“Boots and him, I think that it is a good fight. His speed is what will help him out, but the way that he looked versus Canelo, he still looked sharp. He still looked smart, he looked very sharp, hands up, good movement, good punch placement, good decisions, good IQ, good patience, he is a good pro.

“I feel like Karen [Chukhadzhian] brung a lot of them similarities that Crawford has as a professional – very composed, good movement, knows his distance, good feet – and he gave Boots fits. The only difference is that Karen don’t got the firepower and offence that Bud got, Bud’s s**t is coming back sharp and fast.

“He [Chukhadzhian] was hitting Boots, so if he is hitting Boots, then the math is adding up a little bit. So, I have got to go with Bud.”

Ennis is set for a three-belt 154lb title unification against IBF world champion Josh Kelly in January, as he seeks to move one step closer to the undisputed throne.