“Bud’s not an idiot. He knows how good this guy is. I’m sure he thinks he can win because he’s a competitor,” Hearn said on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. “At that time, the money’s not there to fight Boots that weighs up with a risk.”

Hearn believes that changes if Ennis continues winning and establishes himself as one of boxing’s biggest attractions.

“As this starts to change and this fight becomes one of the biggest fights in boxing… if he was to ever come back, the biggest fight for Bud, the only fight for Bud, is this guy,” Hearn said.

Hearn said he would have complete confidence in Ennis if the fight is eventually made.

“I would go into that fight the same way I told you earlier. I sit down and say, ‘Boots, show him.’ That’s the most unbelievable thing about representing this guy,” Hearn said. “Bud loves his money. If that fight becomes a massive payday, he’ll probably take it. We’ll be ready.”

Ennis (35-0, 30 KOs) first must get past the unbeaten Zayas in Brooklyn on Saturday night. A victory would leave him two belts away from becoming the undisputed junior middleweight champion and further strengthen Hearn’s belief that a Crawford comeback would have only one meaningful destination.