Jaron 'Boots' Ennis kept his IBF World Welterweight Title this weekend, beating Karen Chukhadzhian by unanimous decision in his hometown of Philadelphia. The fight marked Ennis' second title defense and a rematch from their previous encounter.
Ennis got his hands on the IBF strap when Terence Crawford was stripped of it before moving up to super-welterweight. The governing body's decision caused quite a stir in the boxing world. Since then, Ennis has defended his title with a stoppage win over David Avanesyan.
Before the fight, Ennis was full of confidence. He said:
"I'm not going to lie, he's getting knocked out on Saturday. We're gonna have some fun, we're gonna put on a show. It doesn't matter what he does, we're going to put on a show and make a big statement Saturday night. We're gonna have a party."
He also added:
"I'm going to have my fun and put on a show. I'm going to just be me and dictate the fight. It's my ring, he's in my world."
Despite Ennis' bold predictions, the fight didn't go exactly as planned. He did manage to drop Chukhadzhian in the fifth round, but couldn't find the knockout he was looking for. His corner kept pushing him to go for the stoppage, but Chukhadzhian proved to be a tough and rugged opponent.
After the fight, Ennis set his sights on unifying the belts in the welterweight division. He said:
"My main focus right now is Karen Chukhadzhian and after I make a big statement Saturday night in knockout fashion, it's undisputed. Bring me my belts."
However, his team has mentioned that arranging unification fights has been challenging. If that doesn't pan out, Ennis might consider moving up to the 154-pound division to chase Crawford.
Speaking of Crawford, he had some advice for Ennis after the fight:
"I [didn't] see the fight, but I heard about it. Stay focused and keep working on your craft. Every night's not going to be the same. Never get too comfortable in this game, if you trying to get to the mecca of the sport. Stay on your mission because all it takes is one slip up."
Crawford, however, doesn't seem interested in fighting Ennis. He's currently eyeing a potential move up in weight to face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, although Alvarez isn't too keen on the matchup.
As for Ennis, he'll need to keep improving if he wants to reach the top of the welterweight division. His latest fight showed that he's still got room to grow, but with his talent and determination, he's definitely one to watch in the coming years.
