‘He looks really good’: Jaron Ennis dishes on Canelo Alvarez sparring sessions for Terence Crawford fight

PHILADELPHIA — The clip only revealed their feet and their shins. You heard the thud of glove on skin, though beyond that, that is all anyone saw or heard of the taped Jaron “Boots” Ennis sparring sessions with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in late August, in Truckee, California. After the eight-day span of work, “Boots” and Farah Ennis had the number “5,817” memorized, because Truckee is 5,817 feet above sea level. They also came away with a wealth of information that helped “Boots,” the former IBF welterweight world champion, get ready for his move up to 154 pounds Oct. 11 against Uisma Lima in his native Philadelphia.

Hopefully, Alvarez downloaded some valuable information, too, using Ennis as the perfect foil in preparation for his landmark undisputed super middleweight world title defense against Terence “Bud” Crawford this Saturday on Netflix from the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium.

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Team Ennis and Team Canelo were both a little reluctant to speak openly about who got the better of their sparring, although it is clear they both benefited, adding a tinge of insight as to what may happen in the upcoming historic showdown.

“I went to [Alvarez],” “Boots” said. “I felt I needed to get away and get some added work in, and who else is more experienced, and world class than Canelo? He’s had close to 70 fights. He’s seen every style, and he knows how to break you down. He’s faster than people think, and he’s very patient. He’s tricky. After the amount of fights he’s had, he also knows every trick in the book. It was good work. I’m happy I went. I won’t give up what I think Canelo’s game plan will be, but I will say he looked really good.

“He’s going to give Crawford problems.”

“Boots” reached out to the 35-year-old Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) in mid-August to get work in at a high altitude against the four-division world champion. “Boots” was accompanied by his older brother Farah, who posted a 22-2 (12 KOs) record as a pro and last fought in 2015, although he is thinking of making a comeback at age 42. There is a history between Team Ennis and Team Canelo. Pooh Ennis, the oldest of the three Philly-based Ennis boxing brothers, helped Alvarez prepare for his coming-of-age fight against Shane Mosley in May 2012. “Boots” was 14 at the time when the Ennis brothers traveled out to Big Bear, California, to meet and spar the budding superstar.

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“There is a respect there,” the youngest Ennis said. “Canelo is all about boxing. It’s why he is the best. It’s why he is the face of boxing. He will set traps, he will crowd you, he’s strong. I want to put on a show next month and get the knockout next month. I thought working with Canelo would help me get there. It was a great experience. I had a great time out there. I learned a lot of things from Canelo. I loved it in Truckee. Canelo will bring out the best in you, and I think I helped bring out the best in him [with our sparring sessions]. I loved being in there with him.”

Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer, does not think anything will help Alvarez when it comes to beating the 38-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) on Saturday night. McIntyre has openly dismissed Alvarez’s power and size difference, since there is a chance Crawford will be around 170 pounds on fight night and Alvarez could be over 180.

It won’t matter, according to McIntyre. Just as it does not matter who Alvarez spars with to simulate Crawford.

“No one can [duplicate] ‘Bud,’” McIntyre maintained. “’Boots’ is good. He’s not ‘Bud.’ No one is. Sparring ‘Boots’ isn’t going to help him. Nothing can help him. Having great sparring partners doesn’t mean a damn thing when you step in that ring and the fight becomes real. All that goes out. Like I keep reminding people, Canelo hasn’t stopped anyone since (Caleb) Plant four years ago [in Nov. 2021]. Since then, he couldn’t stop (Gennadiy) Golovkin, (John) Ryder, (Jermell) Charlo, (Jamie) Munguia, (Edgar) Berlanga, or (William) Scull.

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“And none of them are even close to ‘Bud.’ Canelo’s power will go away after the sixth, seventh round. Crawford has been 168 pounds for a while. I’m not saying this will be easy; it won’t be a cake walk. Crawford will outbox his ass.”

“Boots” and Farah traveled out to Truckee and stayed there from Friday, Aug. 22, and left Sunday morning, Aug. 31. It was “Boots” who opted to leave, wanting to get back to Philly to work with his trainer and father, Derrick “Bozy” Ennis, and his strength and conditioning coach, plus fulfill some obligations with his Oct. 11 fight coming up in the newly branded Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

“’Boots’ wanted work at a high altitude against one of the best, and Canelo is the best,” Farah said. “I won’t forget 5,817. I’m in no shape and I remember getting up one morning walking to the balcony door and I had a shortness of breath. Working in those conditions gets you in shape, it trains your lungs. Canelo looked good. He’s strong, patient, and he will punch your arms, and crowd you. I thought he could have picked up his pace a little, but maybe he was pacing himself. ‘Boots’ was being ‘Boots.’ It’s all I’ll say.

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“It was good work. I like Canelo’s patience, his intelligence — he likes to set traps. I think Canelo has a real good chance to beat Crawford. I don’t think Crawford has the power to hurt Canelo, but Canelo does have the power, ‘Boots’ and I feel, to hurt Crawford. Canelo looked in great shape and he’s ready. I do know Crawford and Canelo are taking this fight seriously. They both realize the history at stake. Canelo really treated us well. Our families have history with one another. I really hope Canelo the best, he’s a great guy. I will say this, Canelo looks really good.”

Alvarez seemed grateful for the work he received from “Boots,” who mimicked Crawford’s style while getting in some work of his own. Alvarez has turned into a seek-and-destroy fighter in the heavier weight classes and at this stage of his career.

“I’m going to need to be quick, and fast [against Crawford], and ‘Boots’ helped get ready for that,” Alvarez said. “I don’t need to be slick anymore. I know I can still do a lot of things. I know I need to be intelligent and patient. At 168, I feel I can be both slick and powerful. Crawford has pride. He will try and win. We’ll see who the best is. I always go into every fight with the mentality to win.

“That will never change.”