Before the match with Karen Shukaddian on Saturday Jaron Ennis said his goal is to be uncontested at 147 pounds.
Ennis, 27, from Philadelphia Returning to the ring four months after withdrawing from David Avanesyan in five rounds, Ennis now faces 28-year-old Chukadchian from Ukraine to defend his IBF welterweight world title at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia It was a familiar enemy he had faced in January of last year.
Ennis expects a strong performance in Philadelphia against a familiar opponent.
“It was a blessing to fight at Wells Fargo Center,” Ennis said in an interview with Fight Hub TV. “It was the first fight there in a while. and is considered historical I’m glad I was able to do it. I’m glad I did it again. I feel like this one is going to be bigger and better than before.”
Ennis has struggled to compete with 147 middleweight contenders Terrence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., who have both moved to 154. Join the Junior Middleweight division with talented fighters such as Sebastian Fundora (WBC and WBO champion), Bakram Murtasaliyev (WBA), Virgil Au. Rtiz Jr., Tim Zuzu and Serhiy Bohachuk, among others.
When commenting on his talent at 154, Ennis, 32-0 (29 KO), refused to rule out a move up to junior middleweight in the future.
“Maybe we’ll be at 154, maybe not, I don’t know, we’ll sit, I mean they’re really popular right now. Hope you can see me up there. So you never know. They are all great fighters.”
Ennis is focused on recording a big win against Chukadzian in Saturday’s match. Receiving a unanimous victory in the first fight. According to Ennis He must record an emphatic win on Saturday.
“That’s what I have to do. And when I look for results, that’s what happens. He doesn’t do anything to do with me. It’s more of my own. I just didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I mean, I was looking for the knockout instead of letting it come to me.”
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist specializing in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column called “From The Ringside” in his home country of Ghana for many years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, on LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and by email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com–