Pay Attention: Bozy Ennis says the key to success, for both Andy Cruz and his own son, is simple

BN: How is it you got here to be appointed Andy Cruz’s coach? 

I acquired a cellphone name months and months again. Jamil Parker, he’s a sports activities author, referred to as me and mentioned, “Did anybody call you?” I mentioned, “Nah, nah”. He mentioned, “These people want you to train Andy Cruz, alright?” I mentioned, “Okay, when they call me, I’ll talk to them and see where they’re coming from”. But I forgot that earlier than that, someone did name me – it was Andy Cruz’s supervisor, and I forgot all about it. I mentioned, “You know what – I think they called me and said they wanted to come down here and check me out”. So, when he requested me about coaching Andy, I mentioned, “Y’all come down here and let me take a look at him”. Even although I noticed him when he fought Keyshawn [Davis, at Tokyo 2020]. Then I mentioned, “Yeah, I’ll take a look at him”. That was then.

Then in a while down the line they referred to as me once more – they mentioned they had been gonna come down and go to me, and I waited for some time. Then unexpectedly he got here down, I used to be working with him, and they favored what I used to be doing with him. They mentioned, “Yeah, he can’t punch, and he can’t that”. Man, I acquired him sitting down. I mentioned, “He can punch”, y’know what I imply? It’s simply with his left hand, he would smack somewhat bit, so I acquired him turning his pictures somewhat higher. If you’d seen the different day when he was boxing, you’ll’ve seen what I used to be speaking about. He’s sitting down – he could be champion, man.

Way I heard it, one among his managers was saying they noticed the stuff that I do – I suppose it should’ve been on Instagram or no matter – and they favored the means my son, Boots [Jaron Ennis], fights. They mentioned I used to be the man for them – to practice Andy. People was asking why he didn’t go to [the Las Vegas-based Ismael] Salas, or why he didn’t go to [the Miami-based Jorge] Rubio. He mentioned, “Nah, we didn’t want to go over there; we wanted to come here”, with me. So, I mentioned, “Oh, that’s fine”. Man, he match proper in, man. He had enjoyable in right here; we had enjoyable in right here, man. He’ll be dancing; singing; taking part in round and all that. Good man, man. Good man.

They simply mentioned they didn’t need to be in that sort of atmosphere [in Vegas or Miami] – I don’t know – as a result of all them Cuban fighters go to them [Salas and Rubio]. I suppose they didn’t need that.

BN: How do you overcome the language barrier?

Well, he understands a few of the stuff that I be doing now. I imply, earlier than, he didn’t perceive it. His supervisor [Jofri Sanchez] is gonna are available in with him anyway; he speaks for me.

Sometimes [Sanchez] doesn’t have to be there. [Cruz will] go in there, and I’ll inform him to do one thing with my arms – to the physique, or to the head, or one thing like that – and he does it. He is aware of what I’m saying to him typically too. When I say, “Jab, more jabs”, he understands that now. When he first began right here, he would end work on the bag, and he would sit down. I mentioned, “Yo, we don’t sit down. You gotta complete the whole regiment. After you hit the bag, you jump rope and exercise, or before that you might shadow box; you might get in the ring and box”. I mentioned, “No sitting down. Bullshit! Bullshit!”. That’s what I mentioned. So, he’d are available in, “Bullshit! Bullshit!” So, now I advised him, no bullshit, as a result of he’s been doing what he’s supposed to be doing now. We have enjoyable, man. I believe he could be one thing.

BN: How conscious are you of the scrutiny he’ll be below this weekend?

Yeah – and they acquired him combating a 10-rounder. First battle popping out – 10 rounder. With me? I wouldn’t do it, y’know what I imply? I wouldn’t do it. But that’s what they [Cuban fighters] do after they come right here – they’ve so many novice fights [Cruz went 140-9 as an amateur]. And that was their job over in Cuba – that’s what they do. All they do is field. So, I suppose they know greater than me, however with my son, I might by no means do this. Gradually – 4 rounds, perhaps three or 4, six rounders, and then eight rounders.

It don’t actually concern me; it’s simply that I wouldn’t do it. That’s the means we work right here. It’s an pointless threat. Then, [in Juan Carlos Burgos] – he simply fought Keyshawn [Davis, losing via points over eight rounds in December]. So, I believe what they’re making an attempt to do – they’re making an attempt to make an announcement. That’s what I believe they’re making an attempt to do, however I can’t fault them for that. But that’s on them. I’m gonna do my job, and they gotta do their job. You’re selecting this fighter, in order that’s on you.

I might inform them [if I thought they were making a mistake], however it’s gonna be up to them, as a result of they’re the managers. But I might inform them, “No, no, I wouldn’t do that right now”. Oh yeah, I might strive to cease that.

BN: Can Cruz be a part of the leaders at the high of the light-weight division?

He will be a part of them. It’s not, “Can he?”. He will be a part of them; he’s gonna be proper there. He will probably be champion; all he gotta do is listen; comply with the script that I’m laying down for him. Then he’s gonna be there. Like my man was saying – he watching from the amateurs, the transition is to the execs now. So, now I’m instructing him the professional type.

BN: Do you agree that your son Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Vergil Ortiz are going to succeed Terence Crawford and Errol Spence at the high of the welterweight division?

I believe so – I believe that’s what’s going to occur. Down the line, it’s gonna be Boots and Ortiz. That’s a very good battle, as a result of keep in mind – they’re both coming. It’s who will get to who, when it comes to them two. That’s what it’s gonna seem like, between Boots and Ortiz. And they’re gonna construct that up – identical to [Oscar] De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather. So, they’ll in all probability clear the division out, and then it’s gonna be them two.

BN: Do you see Boots ever combating Crawford or Spence?

Oh, I might love that. I don’t find out about 147 – I do know ultimately we’re gonna transfer up to 154 anyhow, so we would meet them. We would possibly battle them at 154, in the event that they’re nonetheless there, as soon as we clear this 147 division out.

BN: Shawn Porter just lately mentioned Boots will show the greatest welterweight since Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Can he?

Oh, indisputably, man. Boots can battle inside and exterior – you haven’t seen the better of Boots but. But see, nobody’s made Boots go to one other stage but. [Sergey] Lipinets, that was a very good fighter, proper? Look what Boots did with Lipinets [in 2021]. He knocked them out [in five rounds]. He’d by no means been knocked out earlier than. Boots is already on their [Crawford’s and Spence’s] stage.