The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen “Breadman” Edwards tackling topics such as newly crowned IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis, Terence Crawford, Hector Camacho, Ryan Garcia vs. Adrien Broner, David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade, and more.

What do you think of Jaron Ennis being awarded the Terence Crawford’s IBF belt? I know you’re big on both guys but somehow this doesn’t seem fair to Crawford. He just won the title three months ago and now he’s being stripped. It seems inconsistent with both Charlo brothers not defending against their mandatories for over a year and in Jermall’s case over two years. What can boxing do to change this?

Bread’s Response: I am big on both. Crawford in my opinion is an ATG and could’ve competed in any era from 135-147. And Ennis is simply the most talented fighter I’ve ever been around up close and personal. I think it’s a shame that both are getting criticized. Crawford just became champion. And it’s obvious he has a rematch clause to fight Errol Spence. None of this is his fault. Maybe he could’ve paid Boots some step aside money but I’m assuming Team Crawford is saying for what. The rematch with Spence is at 154lbs. Why pay step aside fees for a 147lb mandatory and we are moving up? They would have a point…

In Ennis’s case what else is he supposed to do? He’s been overdue for a title shot since 2021. We are going into 2024. It sucks because for your first title. Every fighter dreams of hearing, “and the new!”. So Ennis was robbed of that feeling. But all he did was destroy 31 opponents. Become a mandatory. And wait for the rules to be enforced. He can’t help it that Errol Spence had injuries which prolonged a mandatory defense.

It’s no different than what Devin Haney and Tim Tszyu did. All 3 were 100% right. They earned their shot and never received their shots so they were awarded titles. 

Anyone who criticizes Crawford or Ennis is a moron. Both can be in the right even though they are on two opposite sides in this matter. 

Ok here is the fix. All champions have to defend their mandatories every 12 months. The only exceptions are unified champions who have 18 months to defend. Champions should only be allowed to pay step aside fees twice to a specific opponent. That will eliminate fighters who milk the mandatory by getting paid instead of fighting. Eliminate regular and interim champions ALL TOGETHER. There is absolutely no reason for them except to collect sanctioning fees. 

You’re not interim anymore if you’re the interim champion for over a year. Same as the regular championships. So after we eliminate that, and after a champion is stripped, we simply take the highest two rated contenders and they fight to become champion. No appointing of championships.

This would have a positive effect on the sanctioning bodies and they would recognize and put more deserving mandatories in place. It’s simple but it won’t be easy as Richie Plant always says.

Hi breadman do you think boots should move up in weight just because he have a belt these guys still not going to fight him.

Bread’s Response: He just got the belt yesterday. Dang, you guys are impatient. Let’s see what Boots’s team can do for him. Let’s see if they can get a big name opponent to take the bait and fight him. Let’s see if Boots can unify. Let’s just see how things go at least in 2024 before we talk about moving up.

Bread,

Saw someone wrote about the question I wrote concerning headgear as far as safety goes in regards to maybe brain injuries. Just to clarify my question had nothing to do with that .  My question was simply would there be more exciting fights with headgear vs headgear off. I dont want to see them wear headgear either.  I was just curious on what you felt concerning how much more action there would be

Take care

Rich Mathews

Bread’s Response: No I think boxing would be LESS exciting with head gear. I think being able to see fighter’s faces allows the public to bond with them. And if that gets taken away we will lose the bond. No way should pro boxing have head gear.

I’m assuming you think fighters would take more chances with head gear. Maybe but they would also get clipped less. I the two dynamics would cancel each other out…