Rematch much harder but Ennis outpoints Chukhadzhian, retains title
'Boots' scores knockdown, wins clear decision but it was way tougher than their first fight; move to 154 to face Vergil Ortiz may be on tap
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The rematch between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Karen Chukhadzhian played out in a far different manner than it did the first time they squared off but the result was the same with Ennis winning a unanimous decision on Saturday night.
Ennis won 119-107, 117-109 and 116-110 to retain the IBF welterweight title in his second defense in the main event of the Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN at the Wells Fargo Center in his hometown of Philadelphia, but it was a far tougher fight than the first time around.
In January 2023, Ennis cruised to a shutout decision — 120-108 on all three scorecards to win the vacant interim title on the Gervonta Davis-Hector Luis Garcia undercard — against an unwilling Chukhadzhian, who showed zero inclination to engage or make any real effort to win.
But in the mandatory rematch, which the obscure and unaccomplished Chukhadzhian had done nothing to warrant, he at least came to fight this time and gave Ennis the toughest test of his career.
Part of that was on Ennis, who was sloppy defensively, got hit quite a bit and perhaps took Chukhadzhian lightly after routing him last year. But part of it was on Chukhadzhian, who radically altered his style compared to the first fight. Instead of running or backing up nonstop and making Ennis chase him, Chukhadzhian stood his ground for most of the fight, slugged it out with him and landed and took many good shots.
Ennis was well aware that it was not his best night even though he was the clear winner.
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