IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is training hard for his rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) must reconsider Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) after the International Boxing Federation ordered him to defend against his obligation.
Although Boots beat Ukrainian fighter Karen Chukhadzhian by a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision in January 2023, he was forced to fight him again because the bout was arranged. Last year, Ennis defeated the defending fighter by scores of 120-108, 120-108 and 120-108.
Chukhadzhian’s management worked him into the IBF mandatory spot by matching him against these three fighters: Pietro Rossetti, Harry Scarff and Michel Marcano. These aren’t household names, but the IBF still thought enough of Karen’s wins to give him a #1 ranking and mandatory position at 147.
The welterweight division is very weak at this point, making it possible for fighters like Chukhadzhian to rise to the top after beating exclusively non-contenders.
Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn could have maneuvered him around his IBF obligations if he had come up with the extra $500,000 that WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. wanted to agree to fight Boots in a unification match in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Brian’s father, Norman Sr, said they would accept the $1.7 million offer to fight Ennis, but only if it was in neutral territory. He mentioned that he wanted the fight in Las Vegas, but it was not accepted. Ennis sells a lot of tickets in Philadelphia and will lose big if he beats Norman Jr. would fight in Las Vegas in front of a smaller crowd.
It’s going to be difficult for Ennis to unify the welterweight division if his promoter, Hearn, can’t put in the money to get the other champions to agree to fight him.
In the co-feature for the November 9th card, WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends against interim champion Pedro Guevara in a 12-round contest.
Some fans suggested it should be the main event, but that’s not what Hearn wants. He’s trying to turn Ennis into a star while signed with his Matchroom company, and he can’t do that when he’s fighting on undercards.
12 rounds of sparring in the bag 🔪 feels good 😈!
— Boots (@JaronEnnis) 30 September 2024
