Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis overpowers Chukhadzhian to retain IBF welterweight title

Jaron Ennis defended his share of the 147lbs championship with a flat performance in front of his hometown crowd, scoring a unanimous victory over Ukrainian fighter Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Ennis, known as ‘Boots’, won 119-107, 117-109, 116-110 on the scorecards to retain the IBF welterweight championship.

The 27-year-old Ennis, from northwest Philadelphia, fought for the second time this year at the Philadelphia arena, home of both the 76ers and Flyers.

Ennis (33-0) was on the brink of victory in the fifth round after a flurry of body shots dropped Chukhadzhian on his right knee in the corner and drew a rise from the Philly crowd.

Ennis’ corner barked at the hunter to get Chukhadzhian “out of here already!” deep in battle. Ennis is touted as one of the top rising stars in a sport that desperately needs one in America.

He didn’t lose his hometown audience. Ennis certainly didn’t win over many other fans – especially the new viewers watching the card on Dazn – with a stoppage never really within reach, although going for the big KO seemed to be his only goal.

It was a rematch of their January 2023 fight that Ennis won by unanimous decision. Ennis defended the welterweight title later that year against Roiman Villa in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and defeated David Avanesyan in his homecoming in Philly this year.

The biggest blow to Ennis is his lack of defense.

Sure enough, Ennis stumbled in the first round after being socked with a big left hand, though he never got off his feet. Chukhadzhian (24-3) was more assertive in the rematch – which was necessary after a widely panned performance in their first fight. He scored his share of body shots, but not enough to do serious damage or put enough rounds on the scorecards.

Ennis headlined a card in July that drew a whopping 14,119 fans to the Wells Fargo Center.

Saturday night’s crowd didn’t quite reach July’s attendance, largely due to a rematch against a lackluster opponent. Still, around 10,000 fans stood firmly behind Boots, all raising their smartphones as the ring announcer implored them to “shine your light for Boots!”

Ennis wore metal shoulder spikes and purple and white trunks as he was walked to the ring, accompanied by rapper G Herbo.

Ennis has expressed his desire to fight either Errol Spence Jr or Terence Crawford. He would also like to take a shot at Canelo Alvarez. Ennis also hasn’t ruled out an increase in the weight class to 154 pounds.

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez successfully defended his share of the super flyweight title with a TKO victory over Pedro Guevara in the third round. Rodriguez, 24, of San Antonio, knocked Guevara down twice in the third, the second time putting the challenger on his back and that was enough for the referee to stop the fight.

Rodriguez (21-0) used a right uppercut to defeat Guevara (44-5-1) in the third round and remained atop the 115-pound division.

“I’m quite happy, but I already knew it was going to happen that way,” he said. “I really thought he was going to stand there and fight some more.”