Boxing

Bernie Davis encourages “Boots” to fight Bakhram Murtazaliev

Published

10 months ago

October 13, 2025

Image: “Fight the Boogeyman”: Coach Bernie Davis Urges ‘Boots’ Ennis to Step Up Against Bakhram Murtazaliev to Back Up Eddie Hearn’s Hype

Trainer Bernie Davis says he wants Jaron “Boots” Ennis next to pursue 154-pound bogeyman, IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, to prove his worth.

Davis says that given the way Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn is praising him as Terence Crawford’s successor, he wants him to take a real risk and fight Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KO) next. He doesn’t think WBA champion Abass Baraou is worthy of fighting in the Boots.

Strike while victory is fresh

Hearn only briefly mentioned Murtazaliev’s name last Saturday after Ennis’ first-round knockout victory over Uisma Lima in Philadelphia. The fighter he talked about most was WBC junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr., whom he credits as the first step toward earning a fight with Crawford. I disagree. Ennis is now ready for Crawford.

Defeating Vergil Jr. and there is no need for Bakhram for “Boots” to call in Crawford and fight him now, before he gets much older. He already has an age excuse if he loses, claiming he is 38 years venerable.

If Ennis waits another year or two, Crawford will live to be 40; there is little to be gained by beating him in terms of legacy. It’s time. Crawford just defeated Canelo Alvarez, and while that victory is still fresh, “Boots” should fight him before it fades away. You saw how tired Crawford looked after the fight. He looked 38 and then older and fought like him too. Except Canelo was worse.

Beating Bakhram means something

“If Bakhram is a bogeyman and this guy [Ennis] is a Roy Jones Jr. hybrid. and Terence Crawford, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t fight this guy,” coach Bernie Davis said. MillCity Boxing that Jaron “Boots” Ennis will next face IBF 154-pound champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Bakhram, 32, has not fought since last year, when he defeated Tim Tszyu in the third round on October 19, 2024. Who knows what impact this year has had on him outside the ring? Besides, he had never beaten anyone of note before this fight, and he was fighting Jack Culcay. As we saw with Tszyu’s recent seventh-round loss to Sebastian Fundora on July 19, he is not as good as fans thought. Fundora is not a robust puncher, but he crushed Tszyu.

“I’m looking for him to make a statement against Bakhram. Because this kid doesn’t want to fight,” Davis said. “If he [Ennis] he fights the WBA champion [Abass Baraou]we might as well cancel it. I don’t want to hear anything about “Boots” anymore. If he doesn’t fight Bakhram, Vergil Ortiz or Xander Zayas.

Baraou (17-1, 9 KO) is a better fighter than WBO champion Xander Zayas. The way he performed in his recent 12-round unanimous decision defeat of WBA 154-pound interim champion Yoenis Tellez suggests he’s tougher than Zayas. If the shoe had been on the other foot, Xander couldn’t have done this to Cuban Tellez.

Davis: Boots vs. Vergil is 50-50

“I prefer him over Xander. I think it’s 50-50 between him and Vergil Ortiz because Vergil won’t be impressed with those combinations,” Davis said.

Chris Williams is a senior writer for Boxing News 24covering sports since 2013 and reporting on major events around the world. His relationships range from established champions to hungry prospects vying for recognition. Over the years, Chris has worked with many of boxing’s top brass, earning respect for his insightful analysis and insider perspective.

Last update: 13/10/2025

Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.

Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.