by Keith Idec
PHILADELPHIA – Jaron Ennis entertained his hometown followers at occasions Saturday night time, but he didn’t essentially produce a extra full efficiency towards an opponent he dominated 22 months earlier.
The IBF welterweight champion knocked Ukraine’s Karen Chukhadzhian to the canvas within the fifth spherical, however they went the gap once more of their maligned important occasion at Wells Fargo Heart, the house enviornment of the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Flyers. Chukhadzhian received rounds this time round, as judges Dave Braslow (119-107), Eric Marlinski (117-109) and Steve Weisfeld (116-110) respectively scored 11, 9 and eight rounds for Ennis.
Ennis received all 12 rounds on every of the three judges’ scorecards, 120-108 apiece, once they first fought on the Gervonta Davis-Hector Luis Garcia undercard in January 2023 at Capital One Area in Washington, D.C.
The 27-year-old Ennis nonetheless improved to 33-0 (29 KOs, 1 NC) by successful a mandated rematch that was streamed by DAZN worldwide. The 31-year-old Chukhadzhian slipped to 24-3 (13 KOs), however he has not been knocked out in 9 years as a professional.
Chukhadzhian got here to struggle of their second bout after principally transferring away from Ennis all through their preliminary encounter. He landed a number of flush punches on an unsuspecting Ennis, however he couldn’t harm the dynamic champion, who was displeased along with his personal efficiency towards an opponent he had already soundly defeated.
“Whenever you struggle bottom-tier guys, you understand, generally you don’t wanna stand up for ‘em,” Ennis informed DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “However, you understand, I do know if I struggle a method higher man I’mma be loopy. I’mma be on level, you understand? That’s what’s gonna make me higher, you understand? Not saying he a nasty fighter or something, however I want them prime guys.”
Ennis’ aim is to change into boxing’s second totally unified welterweight champion of the four-belt period. He’ll take into account transferring as much as 154 kilos for his subsequent struggle if Ennis can not safe a unification struggle with WBO champ Brian Norman (26-0, 20 KOs), WBA champ Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs, 1 NC) or the winner of Friday’s struggle between WBC champ Mario Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) and Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs).
Regardless, Eddie Hearn, Ennis’ promoter, acknowledged that he’ll must be higher defensively towards an opponent extra harmful than Chukhadzhian.
“You understand, I believe numerous the issue at this degree is he’s getting in there making an attempt to make it entertaining, with little or no regard for what’s coming again,” Hearn informed Mannix within the ring. “I believed it was truly an awesome efficiency from Chukhadzhian. They mentioned they have been gonna give us an actual struggle this time – they did it. You understand, Boots isn’t all the time switched on like he can be towards a fighter that he has the concern issue towards.
“I’ve seen this week he’s been a lot tighter than regular at 147. Maybe it’s time to transfer to ‘54. It’s very troublesome to do it once you wanna win belts and also you maintain a world championship. But additionally, if it’s affecting your efficiency, you must transfer up.”
Hearn talked about Ennis’ longtime rival, Vergil Ortiz Jr., as a possible opponent if Ennis strikes as much as the junior middleweight division for his first struggle of 2025.
On Saturday night time, Ennis’ offensive arsenal was in the end an excessive amount of for the challenger to deal with.
His proper uppercut knocked Chukhadzhian to at least one knee with 58 seconds to go within the fifth spherical. Chukhadzhian made it to the sixth spherical and continued to commerce with Ennis.
The bodily struggle grew ugly at occasions as a result of Chukhadzhian frequently held Ennis to forestall him from touchdown mixtures from shut vary. Referee Harvey Dock deducted some extent from the challenger in the course of the 10th spherical for holding.
Dock beforehand warned Ennis twice for hitting Chukhadzhian beneath the belt.
They fought once more Saturday night time as a result of the IBF inexplicably ordered Ennis to face Chukhadzhian after he received an eliminator over Italy’s Pietro Rossetti (then 18-1) in October 2023, solely 10 months after Ennis simply beat him.
Chukhadzhian stepped apart and allowed Ennis to struggle Russia’s David Avanesyan in his final struggle. Ennis stopped Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 KOs) after 5 one-sided rounds July 13, additionally at Wells Fargo Heart.
