Is Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis A World Champion Or Just A Sparring Partner? Tim Bradley Blasts Star Fighter’s Lack Of “Balls”

Tim Bradley criticized Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis this week for working as a “sparring partner” to assist Canelo Alvarez train for his upcoming superfight in 16 days against Terence Crawford on September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

World Champion or Sparring Partner?

Bradley states that Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) is receiving the most amount of “attention” he’s ever had since signing to work as undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo’s helper for his fight. Tim mocks the way Ennis smiled, posing for a picture with Canelo that went viral on X.

Bradley argues that the ex-welterweight champion Ennis has been reduced to working as a sparring partner in part due to what he believes is a lack of “balls” to take the tough fights. One of the tough fights that ‘Boots’ Ennis failed to take was against Vergil Ortiz Jr. for Turki Alalshikh’s February 22, 2025, event in Riyadh, earlier this year.

Bradley says Ennis “ducked” Ortiz Jr. when he chose not to fight him. Now, Ennis is fighting little-known Uisma Lima on October 11 in his debut at 154 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The “Balls” Accusation

“With ‘Boots,’ I’m back on you. Yeah, I’m back on you. When are you going to grow some balls and fight somebody, man?” said Hall of Fame boxer Bradley on his YouTube channel, questioning former unified IBF and WBA welterweight champion ‘Boots’ Ennis.

Bradley doesn’t say who, besides Vergil Jr., he wants Ennis to fight at 154. Fans on social media question why ‘Boots’ didn’t select one of these fighters for his debut at junior middleweight instead of Lima:

• Bakhram Murtazaliev
• Serhii Bohachuk
• Erickson Lubin
• Sebastian Fundora
• Jesus Ramorez Jr.
• Abass Baraou

“This is the most attention you’ve ever gotten in your damn career, sparring against Canelo Alvarez,” Bradley said about Ennis. “I saw you all cheesing and smiling in the picture. ‘Yeah, look at me. I’m helping the champ out.’ You’re a world champion, and you’re out there as a sparring partner now?”

A Betrayal of Boxing’s Code

Bradley was critical of Ennis helping out Canelo for the Crawford fight, viewing it as a sense of betrayal that he was breaching an unwritten “code.’ Tim stated that Ennis should have revealed the secrets of his sparring with Canelo to assist Crawford in ‘The Fight of the Century’ on September 13th.

“For real, that’s what you are, a sparring partner now? You’re a world champion and a sparring partner now. Bro, if you need a bag, hit me up. Wait, wait, wait, you don’t like me, right?” said Bradley.

Fans on social media who are in favor of Ennis sparring Canelo view it as an excellent way for ‘Boots’ to gain more experience to help him grow as a fighter before he takes on the top guys at 154. Training with Alvarez will help Ennis.

“If you know Lima, you know it’s a great fight… The reality is, we needed a fight at 154 that was going to test Jaron Ennis,” said Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, to the Stomping Ground about why Lima was selected for his fighter, Ennis.

Two of the names that Hearn mentioned that had failed to accept offers given to him for the Ennis fight are Josh Kelly and Rashidi Ellis.

Eight Fighters Turned Him Down

“Eight fighters turned this down for massive money. No one wants to fight Jaron Ennis, but Lima will,” said Hearn.

Eddie didn’t mention who the other six fighters were who had turned down the fight against Ennis. He also didn’t say how much he was offering them.