Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis says he needs to maneuver as much as 154 after struggling to defeat the technically gifted Karen Chukhadzhian final Saturday night time of their rematch at 147 in Philadelphia.
If Ennis strikes as much as 154, he can instantly problem IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev for his title and present the followers that his issues final night time have been associated to being drained. That was one in every of Ennis’ excuses for his issues with Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs).
Chukhadzhian confirmed the facility that nobody had ever seen earlier than from him, as he seemed like a miniature Artur Beterbiev with a number of the pictures that he was hitting Ennis with. You may hear Chukhadzhian’s punches touchdown on Ennis all night time to know he was hitting with energy.
What saved Chukhadzhian from successful was the exercise. He centered an excessive amount of on touchdown single potshots fairly than overwhelming Boots with exercise like undisputed mild heavyweight champion Beterbiev does at 175.
Had Chukhadzhian taken at shut vary and thrown nonstop punches the way in which Beterbiev does, he would have knocked out Boots final night time as a result of he was hitting him with large pictures all through the competition.
Can Ennis Deal with Murtazaliev’s Energy?
Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) is presumably the largest puncher at 154, and he could be a serious take a look at for Ennis if he moved as much as battle for his IBF belt. It could be a struggle the place Boots Ennis would should be extra defensively sound, as he couldn’t rely on his chin to take the sorts of pictures that Murtazaliev could be allotting for 12 rounds.
Ennis took a variety of onerous, clear pictures from Chukhadzhian final Saturday night time
Boots and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, spoke about desirous to face WBC interim junior middleweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. subsequent in a Riyadh Season occasion if the proper supply got here in. Nonetheless, it will imply rather more if Ennis selected to struggle for a full belt in opposition to the King of the 154-lb division, Murtazliev, fairly than for an interim strap in opposition to a fighter coming off a controversial 12-round majority determination win over Serhii Bohachuk on August tenth.
Boots’ Excuses
IBF welterweight champion Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) blamed his issues within the Chukhadzhian struggle on three causes:
- Missing pop in his punches: Within the post-fight interview, Ennis stated that he lacked “pop” in his punches in opposition to Karen, and he feels that it will be totally different if he moved as much as 154.
- Getting older: The 27-year-old Ennis talked about that he was getting older, and he noticed that as a doable purpose why he couldn’t take care of Chukhadzhian’s superior abilities. Ennis seemed like he lacked the abilities to take care of the Ukrainian fighter, who had skills that he didn’t possess. Ennis had by no means discovered the issues that Chukhadzhian confirmed within the struggle. Therefore, he was schooled, and he received solely due to his exercise stage.
- Not motivated: Ennis referred to Chukhadzhian as a “Backside tier” fighter on the post-fight press convention.
Ennis’s excuses for his inept efficiency have been pathetic to behold, and it’s simply one other instance of a fighter unable to face the reality. Given how depressed Ennis seemed and sounded after the struggle, he is aware of that Chukhadzhian was the higher fighter.
“I believe it is perhaps time to go to 154. I really feel like at 154, I’m going to be manner higher, and my pop goes to be the way it’s presupposed to be. If we might get one in every of these guys (an elite welterweight) to cease taking part in, let’s make it occur. But when not, then 154, right here I come,” stated Jaron Ennis to DAZN after his win over Chukhadzhian final Saturday night time.
Murtazaliev isn’t fairly as expert as Chukhadzhian, however he’s not far behind and punches a lot tougher. He’s acquired knockout energy in both hand, as followers witnessed not too long ago together with his third-round technical knockout win over former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu on October nineteenth in Orlando, Florida.
Ennis would have many issues in opposition to Murtazaliev, and it’s questionable whether or not he’ll make it previous the third spherical with the way in which he was getting hit by Chukhadzhian.
