Cody Crowley Forced to Withdraw from IBF Welterweight Title Fight Against Jaron “Boots” Ennis
In a sudden turn of events, rising welterweight contender Cody Crowley has been forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated showdown with IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, scheduled for July 13 in Philadelphia. Crowley, a talented 31-year-old boxer with a pristine 22-0 record (9 KOs), detailed the reasoning behind this setback.
Crowley recently met with his eye surgeon, who had performed double eye surgery on him back in November 2023. While the boxer expressed satisfaction with the ongoing improvements and healing of his eyes, the minimum requirements set by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission have not yet been met. The repaired retina in Crowley’s right eye is experiencing fluid accumulation, causing distortion in his vision. As a result, the surgeon has not yet cleared him to compete on the scheduled date.
“I am devastated by this news, but I have peace in my heart,” Crowley stated. “This is a situation that is beyond my control, and I have given 100% of myself in preparation for this fight.”
The highly regarded Ennis, who recently signed with Matchroom Boxing, was awarded the IBF welterweight title after the sanctioning body stripped the previous champion, Terence Crawford, who will be moving up to the 154-pound division in August.
It is understood that Matchroom, headed by promoter Eddie Hearn, will now seek a replacement opponent for the July 13 event, which is set to proceed as planned. However, Crowley’s future in the sport remains uncertain, as he and his team plan to consult with world-class doctors in the coming days and weeks to chart a clear path back to championship-level boxing.
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