Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis says he will correct the mistakes he made from his fight last year against Karen Chukhadzhian when he faces him in a rematch in 25 days on November 9th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Fans criticized Boots Ennis for his inability to cut off the ring and for appearing one-dimensional in his fight last year against Chukhadzhian on January 7, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Jaron was swinging wildly, missing, and being countered by Chukhadzhian the entire fight.
Although Ennis won the contest by a wide 12-round unanimous decision, he showed weakness in his game with his inability to adapt. Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) will defend his IBF welterweight title against mandatory Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) in a 12-round rematch live on DAZN.
Ennis blames himself for his lackluster effort, saying that he was too focused on scoring a knockout and not having fun. Ennis must look good in the rematch to increase his popularity. His decision-making puts him in a tough spot to become a star.
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom recently signed Boots, believing that he can transform him into a global star, but it doesn’t look promising. Ennis’ decision to stay at welterweight, a weak and barren division, will trap him in years of low-level fights that won’t attract attention from the larger public. If Ennis were ambitious, he’d move up to 154 and potentially become a star overnight.
“I’m ready to make a statement. It’ll be another knockout coming,” said Jaron Ennis to YSM Sports Media, talking about his fight against Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9th. “The card is stacked. A second homecoming, and this one is going to be even better.”
Boots didn’t look good in his last fight against David Avanesyan on July 13th in Philadelphia, and he took a lot of heavy shots in that contest. That was Ennis’ first fight under the guidance of Eddie Hearn, and he didn’t impress.
Ennis got the knockout in the sixth round against the 35-year-old Avanesyan, but his performance pales in comparison to the sparkling victory Terence Crawford turned in against the same fighter on December 10, 2022.
“None of that stuff bothers me,” said Boots about the perception that Karen exposed him last year. “That was me in my head. My whole mindset was to knock him out and not have my fun. Once I have my fun and do me, that’s when the knockouts come. That’s what I’m going to do this time.”
It would be better for Ennis to keep quiet about what he’s going to do against Chukhadzhian because there will be less of a backlash afterward if he struggles again. This guy is all wrong for Ennis in terms of a fighter that he shines against, and he should be blaming Hearn for not coming through with the money to set up a unification fight against WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. Ennis could be fighting Norman Jr. next if Hearn had increased his $1.7 million offer to the $2.2 million that Norman Sr. wanted.
“I’m going to put on a show, look good doing it, and not look for a knockout,” said Ennis. “I’m glad I went the distance with him. I shut up all the haters who said I couldn’t. I went 12 rounds with ease. I wasn’t breathing hard. I could have gone 15 more.
“Every fight, they’re going to something where they try to say this or say that. I don’t really care. I’m going to go in there and do me. I’m going to put on a show and have my fun,” said Ennis.
Work, work, work 🔒 @JaronEnnis#EnnisChukhadzhian | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/jNszUglobC
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 14, 2024
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