That Karen downside has turn into greater than ever for Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
The Ring has confirmed that P2M-Field Promotion has received the purse bid for Ennis’ IBF welterweight obligatory title protection versus Karen Chukhadzhian. P2M, Chukhadzhian’s promoter, claimed promotional rights with a bid of $2,000,053.10. Matchroom Boxing, Ennis’ promoter, bid $1,566,666 for the ordered however undesirable rematch.
Ennis is already focused to headline a Nov. 9 DAZN present in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His staff was already resigned to the potential of vacating the IBF title for a transfer to junior middleweight.
The arduous resolution could be deemed as a necessity, since there isn’t a curiosity within the obligatory title battle. Ennis (32-0, 29 knockouts) defeated Ukraine’s Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) through 12-round shutout for the interim IBF welterweight title final Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.
An improve to full titlist got here when Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) was stripped of the belt.
Crawford worn out Errol Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) through ninth-round knockout final July 29 to completely unify the division. He was summoned by the IBF to face Ennis in a title consolidation bout, however as an alternative gave up the belt attributable to a contractually certain rematch clause exercised by Spence.
The rematch by no means occurred, and neither Spence nor Crawford have returned to welterweight (or the ring, in Spence’s case).
Ennis defended the total model of the title in a fifth-round knockout of David Avanesyan on July 13 at Wells Fargo Enviornment in Philadelphia. Avanesyan changed beforehand assigned obligatory challenger Cody Crowley, hwho was rejected by the Pennsylvania fee after he failed an eye fixed examination.
Whereas the homecoming was a profitable enterprise for Ennis and Matchroom, he was nonetheless on the hook for a compulsory title protection.
Boxing followers who’ve puzzled how Chukhadzhian elevated again to the obligatory place have ignored how the sport is performed. A number of fighters passing on IBF-ordered eliminators, which benefitted the 28-year-old contender.
Chukhadzhian claimed the highest contender slot after a Might 17 resolution win over Harry Scarff in Rothenbaum, Germany. The IBF then ordered Ennis-Chukhadzian II on July 31. The negotiation interval got here and went with no deal in place, which resulted in Tuesday’s purse bid listening to.
A deal was by no means reached just because the 2 sides by no means had actual talks. Matchroom as an alternative sought a extra fascinating unification bout, the one loophole to trump an ordered obligatory.
The closest they got here have been prolonged talks with WBO titlist Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs). Nonetheless, the 2 sides wound up roughly $500,000 aside on a quantity that will get Norman to desert his present plans.
The 23-year-old from Conyers; Georgia is because of defend his title versus Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas on Nov. 8 in Norfolk, Virginia. The bout will function the ESPN+ co-feature to Keyshawn Davis’ homecoming headliner versus Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos.
Ennis’ subsequent transfer, in the meantime, will likely be determined within the coming days. The ultimate bid isn’t validated till the sanctioning physique receives two separate share deposits and signed bout agreements. Ought to Ennis vacate, Chukhadzhian could be ordered to face the following highest ranked obtainable contender.
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