Jaron Ennis Defeats Karen Chukhadzhian
Jaron “Boots” Ennis successfully defended his IBF welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night in Philadelphia. The fight marked Ennis’s second consecutive home outing, but he didn’t deliver the same level of excitement as in previous bouts.
Fight Highlights
- Scores: 119-107, 117-109, 116-110 in favor of Ennis.
- Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) scored a notable knockdown in Round 5 with a series of body shots, but he was unable to finish Chukhadzhian.
- Despite being a heavy favorite (-5000), Ennis’s performance was considered less impressive compared to their first meeting, where he achieved a shutout decision in January.
Background
The IBF mandated this rematch after Chukhadzhian rose to the top ranking at 147 pounds, despite Ennis’s prior dominance. Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs) had bounced back from his January loss with three consecutive wins, building confidence heading into this rematch.
Jesse Rodriguez Retains WBC Title
In another title bout, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez retained his WBC junior bantamweight title with a third-round TKO over Pedro Guevara.
Fight Highlights
- Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) floored Guevara with a combination in Round 3, finishing him off with a right uppercut at 2:47 of the round.
- Rodriguez expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting that he anticipated an easier fight than expected due to Guevara’s movement.
Background
Rodriguez, ranked No. 7 pound-for-pound by ESPN, was defending the title he won from Juan Francisco Estrada in June. Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs), a former champion, earned this title shot after a split decision victory over Andrew Moloney.
Conclusion
Both Ennis and Rodriguez solidified their positions in their respective divisions, showcasing skill and determination as they strive for even bigger challenges ahead.