IBF welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is training hard for his rematch with Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) is due to rematch Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) after the International Boxing Federation ordered him to defend against the ban.
Although Boots defeated Ukrainian fighter Karen Chukhadzhian by unanimous decision in 12 rounds in January 2023, she was forced to fight her again because the match was ordered. Last year, Ennis defeated the defensive-minded striker by scores of 120-108, 120-108, and 120-108.
Chukhadzhian’s management put him in the IBF rankings by comparing him to the following three: Pietro Rossetti, Harry Scarff and Michel Marcano. Those aren’t popular names, but the IBF still thought enough of Karen’s win that earned her the #1 ranking and the mandatory position at 147.
The welterweight division is very weak at this point, allowing fighters like Chukhadzhian to rise to the top after defeating only those who didn’t.
Ennis’ promoter, Eddie Hearn, could have made him reach his IBF goals if he could have gotten WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. $500,000. who wanted him to agree to fight Boot in a match in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Brian’s father, Norman Sr, said they would accept a $1.7 million offer to fight Ennis, but only if it was in a neutral venue. He mentioned that he wants the fight to be in Las Vegas, but that is not acceptable. Ennis sells a lot of tickets in Philadelphia and will lose a lot of money if he fights Norman Jr. in Las Vegas in front of a small crowd.
It will be difficult for Ennis to consolidate the welterweight division if his promoter, Hearn, cannot put up the money to get other champions to agree to fight him.
On the co-main card of November 9, WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends against interim champion Pedro Guevara in a 12-round contest.
Some fans have suggested that this should be the main event, but that’s not what Hearn wants. He’s trying to turn Ennis into a star when he was signed to his company Matchroom, and he won’t be able to do that if he’s fighting on the undercards.
12 sparring bullets in the bag 🔪 feel good 😈!
– Boots (@JaronEnnis) September 30, 2024
