In a thrilling display of boxing talent, Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez successfully defended their titles on Saturday night, solidifying their status as rising stars in the sport. Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) retained his IBF welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian in their highly anticipated rematch in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) showcased his explosive power by stopping Pedro Guevara in the third round to retain his WBC junior bantamweight title. Both fighters demonstrated their dominance, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s next for these champions.
Ennis, known for his relentless pressure and sharp combinations, outboxed Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs) with a mix of precision and power. Despite dropping the Ukrainian challenger in Round 5 with a series of vicious body shots, Ennis could not secure a knockout, settling for a commanding points win with scores of 119-107, 117-109, and 116-110.
The CompuBox stats highlighted Ennis’ activity, landing 224 out of 730 punches (31%), while Chukhadzhian managed to connect with 173 of 522 punches (33%). Ennis’ higher output and effective aggression ensured a clear victory, proving his versatility against a durable opponent who had bounced back from their first encounter with three consecutive wins.
In the co-main event, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez delivered a statement performance against veteran Pedro Guevara. Rodriguez’s speed and accuracy were on full display as he floored Guevara with a crisp combination in Round 3, before finishing him with a devastating right uppercut at 2:47 of the round. The fight was one-sided, with Rodriguez landing 64 of 183 punches (35%), compared to Guevara’s 21 of 122 (17%).
Rodriguez’s relentless assault and pinpoint accuracy overwhelmed Guevara, a former 108-pound champion and seasoned contender. “I knew it was going to happen that way,” Rodriguez said post-fight, confident in his ability to adapt and dominate.
With these impressive wins, Ennis and Rodriguez continue to rise in their respective weight classes. For Ennis, a potential unification bout or a marquee fight against Vergil Ortiz Jr. (21-0, 21 KOs).
Meanwhile, Rodriguez, who has quickly become one of the most exciting fighters in the lighter divisions, may look to unify titles at 115 pounds or move up in weight for new challenges. Boxing fans are undoubtedly excited to see what the future holds for these two champions who are proving to be unstoppable forces in the ring.
