While it was Jaron 'Boots' Ennis who was the headliner on Saturday night at the Well Fargo Center in his hometown of Philadelphia, it was WBC super flyweight champion, Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez who stole the show.
While they both came out victorious, it was Rodriguez who looked dominant in dusting Pedro Guevara in three rounds. Meanwhile, Ennis successfully defended his IBF welterweight title by out-pointing the game Karen Chukhadzhian over 12 rounds, in a fight that wasn't nearly the waltz as their original bout.
This time around Chukhadzhian was much less mobile and willing to stay in the pocket and punch in-between the salvos of the switch-hitting Ennis. While Ennis was able to land his flashy combinations, he ate his share of leather, and he had to show a good set of whiskers at certain points of this contest.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
What was thought to be another easy homecoming showcase for the talented Ennis, instead became something much different. In the words of 'Duke' in Rocky to Apollo Creed during his bout with Rocky Balboa, "He doesn't know it's a damn show, he thinks its a damn fight." Which is precisely what it became as Chukhadzian did much more than just try and survive this time around. He landed numerous clean shots on Ennis.
FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS | BOOTS ENNIS VS. KAREN CHUKHADZHIAN
This isn't to say that Ennis -- who floored the challenger in round five -- was in danger of ever losing this fight. He was the clear victor and won by the scores of 119-107, 117-109 and 116-110. But these scores do not reflect just how difficult this fight was in spots. It left you wondering if Ennis has stagnated a bit as a fighter
“My performance was okay. I don’t know, it might be time to go to 154. I felt good, but I feel at 154 I’m going to be way better…I was prepared for anything he had coming; it didn’t really matter to me," said Ennis, who remained undefeated with a record of 33-0(29 KOs)
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Ennis later admitted: “After I dropped [Chukhadzhian] I felt like he was holding ever since then. That’s on me though, I needed to take half a step back, rip those shots, use my angles, and just listen more. My dad was saying everything right and I just wasn’t listening.”
As of now, he is considered the best welterweight in the world post-Terence Crawford. There's no denying his vast array of skills and talent (and this particular scribe has certainly been one of his biggest advocates) but it is fair to say some of the plaudits he has earned is on the 'eye test'. The reality is that his actual resume' is a bit lacking. After this last performance match-ups against the likes of Brian Norman, Eimantas Stanionis and Mario Barrios look a bit more concerning if you're a backer of 'Boots'.
Or perhaps a move up to 154, where a potential clash against Vergil Ortiz is possible as part of the Riyadh Season series.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
"We spoke to His Excellency, it's really just a case of making the fight. I'm sure that I'll get a phone call in the next 10-15 minutes to confirm the fight, we're ready to go for February 22. It's getting tight for Boots at 147 and its probably time to move to 154, and if we do, then Boots vs Vergil Ortiz is the best fight in the sport...It's going to be a lot of fun, I look forward to it.”
Before all this took place, 'Bam' Rodriguez showed why his name is listed among the games elite on those mythical pound-for-pound lists. He dismantled a guy in Guevara who had never been stopped previously in three dominant rounds as he showcased his full arsenal. Sometimes its not if you win but how you do so that really matters. Rodriguez took what supposed to be a decent fight, and turned it into an early rout.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
“I’m pretty happy, but I kind of already knew it was going to happen that way. It is what it is. On to the next. I really didn’t expect that [his movement]. I really thought he was going to stand there and fight a little bit more," said Rodriguez.
FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS | BAM RODRIGUEZ VS. PEDRO GUEVARA
The 24 year old Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) seems to be hitting his physical and technical prime as a fighter. He is a sharp and accurate puncher with power, and he has the ability to box from his southpaw stance. He can both box you up, or bang you out of there. And unlike Ennis, who lacks any real defining victories, the names of Juan Francisco Estrada, Sunny Edwards, Carlos Cuadras and Srsikat Sor Rungvisai are already on his ledger. Rodriguez is clearly the ruler at 115, and now he's looking for more belts to add to his collection.
“I feel good, this is my weight class right now. Got a few more fights here and then we’ll see where we go from there…Any unification fight, I’m ready right now.”
NORFOLK
Speaking of hometown performances, Keyshawn Davis, made quite the statement in getting rid of Gustavo Lemos in two explosive rounds at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia..
It wasn't just that Lemos had pushed junior welterweight contender, Richardson Hitchins, to the brink in his last bout, and was considered a legitimate opponent for Davis. But Lemos seemed to blow off the 135-pound weight limit for this contest and made the tactical decision to come in over six pound over. (Yeah, I think it was done on purpose. There was no way Top Rank or Davis was going to pull the plug after selling 10,000 tickets for this event. Unfortunately, shenanigans like this are becoming more commonplace in modern day boxing)
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
After certain weight restrictions were put on Lemos, the fight would move forward. And it turns out that none of this mattered. Davis put on a display of clean, accurate and hard punching that had the rugged Lemos on the floor three times on his way to a second round TKO. Statement made.
"I had no hesitation. Me and my team, we stuck to our guns. We said if he comes in too much over we ain’t gonna fight. But he followed his game plan, and he didn’t come too much over (at the weight check on Friday morning), so we had a fight and we gave a spectacular night," Davis said. "I didn’t feel no power in him. I actually sat back on the ropes one little second, and I let him throw his overhand that he loves and I felt it on my shoulder. And I looked at my brothers and gave them that face like, no, not enough (power). It ended in the second round so maybe he didn’t really get a chance to hit me."
Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) just might be ready for a lightweight title shot.
