Jaron “Boots” Ennis will defend his IBF welterweight title in a rematch with his mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian on November 9, when Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will defend his WBC super-flyweight title against Pedro Guevara.
Ennis stopped David Avanesyan to make the first defence of his title in July at the Wells Fargo Center in his home city of Philadelphia, and he will return to the same venue for his rematch with Ukraine’s Chukhadzhian, 28 and who he eased to victory over in January 2023.
Rodriguez in June stopped Juan Francisco Estrada to enhance his reputation as one of the world’s finest fighters; his contest with Guevara will be used to build the appeal of the match-up between Ennis and Chukhadzhian that Ennis and promoters Matchroom had hoped to avoid.
“I’m excited to be back headlining in my city again,” said the 27-year-old Ennis. “I’m ready to continue dominating the division, making a big statement and showing everyone why I’m the best welterweight in the world.
“It’s time to have some fun, keep crushing whoever is in front of me, put on a beautiful, dominant, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters, while defending and retaining my title in spectacular fashion. It’s my time.”
“I will have enough time to prepare and show a beautiful and spectacular fight,” said Chukhadzhian. “Champ, get ready for the battle, it will be hot.”
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn had hoped to deliver for the talented Ennis a unification fight with Brian Norman Jnr, who defends his WBO title against Derrieck Cuevas on November 8.
“On November 9 tune in to DAZN, get your tickets and witness another exciting performance,” said Rodriguez, 24. “My belts aren’t going anywhere.”
Guevara is nine years Rodriguez’s senior, and he said: “I am very happy to have this opportunity to fight Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
“I am telling you right away that I am going to prepare to put on a war and a great show and to win on November 9 in Philadelphia. I am going with everything and for everything, Viva Mexico and Viva Mazatlan, Sinaloa.”
“Boots’ return to Philly in July was a spectacular night, the fans and the city got right behind him, and I can’t wait to return there and keep building this superstar on his doorstep,” said Hearn, who also recently agreed promotional terms with Shakur Stevenson.
“And what can you say about Bam? His win over Estrada will be one of the performances of the year when the awards are handed out, and he rightly landed in the top five of the pound-for-pound list after it. Jesse is a bonafide superstar in his own right, so to have him join Jaron on this card is a massive treat for Philly’s great fight fans – and there’s plenty more great talents to be added to a night that is not to be missed.”
