The IBF has ordered Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis to defend his welterweight title against mandatory Karen Chukhadzhian in what would be a rematch. Boots’ promoter Eddie Hearn revealed the news today, and he’s disappointed.
The IBF Mandates Rematch
In an interview with Boxing News, Hearn revealed that the IBF ordered Boots (32-0, 29 KOs) to defend against Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs), a fighter Ennis defeated last year by a twelve-round unanimous decision on January 7, 2023, in Washington, DC. The scores were 120-108, 120-108 and 120-108.
Although Boots defeated Chukhadzhian by a wide score, he couldn’t cut off the ring on him and frequently missed his attempts to land big shots on the Ukrainian fighter. Boots was made to look bad in that fight and was widely criticized later by fans, fighters, and the media. Ennis never attempted to throw body shots, and his trainer, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, seemed lost in his corner.
A second fight would be a bad move on Ennis’ part if it’s his only option. Fans don’t want to see it, and the chances are high that Chukhadzhian will expose the flaws in his game like he did last time.
The Reluctance of Other Champions
Hearn is hopeful that he can set up a unification bout that would avert the IBF-ordered title defense, but he’s unsure it will happen. He says he made an offer to WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to fight Boots. If he accepts, it could be the next.
The other three champions at 147 are likely to duck a fight with Boots Ennis because they know it’s a fight they’d lose. They are better off holding onto their titles and picking and choosing winnable fights.
Unless Hearn is going to offer the welterweight champions crazy money to fight Boots, it won’t happen. It’s not worth it for the belt-holders to give up their titles to Ennis in fights they know they can’t win.
Ennis still wants to collect all four titles to become undisputed at 147, but if Hearn cannot get all the champions to agree to fight him, he’ll have to move up. Boots should just move up to 154.
He won’t become undisputed at welterweight because he’s not popular. The other champions won’t fight him because it’s not financially worth it for them to transfer their belts to him for a massive life-changing payday.
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