Ennis hammers Avanesyan, retains IBF 147 title in Philly homecoming
'Boots' secures TKO when challenger cannot continue after 5th round; fight draws biggest crowd in the city in 46 years
A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.
The last time Jaron “Boots” Ennis fought at home in Philadelphia was nearly six years ago, before he emerged as a top welterweight contender and eventually claimed the IBF world title.
So, when he made his first defense in a homecoming fight in his first bout since signing with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn in a DAZN main event on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, his fans turned out for him in a big way.
They watched as Ennis overwhelmed veteran contender David Avanesyan to retain the 147-pound belt in a one-sided fifth-round knockout victory that drew a crowd of 14,119. It was the largest attendance for a boxing event in Philadelphia in 46 years — since Marvin Hagler, two years before he won the undisputed middleweight championship, outpointed Bennie Briscoe before 14,930 at the famed Spectrum in 1978.
I am in my 25th year of full-time boxing coverage. Take advantage of that experience by upgrading to a paid subscription to read the rest of this post and for full access to all posts and comments — and also support independent journalism.