Jaron Ennis celebrates his victory over Sergey Lipinets in April 2021. (Photograph by Amanda Westcott / Showtime)
The next is a Showtime press launch relating to the January 7 Showtime PPV essential occasion that includes Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis Garcia in a 12-round light-weight bout in Washington, D.C.:
Within the co-main occasion, unbeaten rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis returns to motion to tackle the IBF No.4-rated welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian for the Interim IBF Welterweight Title, whereas unbeaten welterweight contender Rashidi Ellis faces the hard-hitting Roiman Villa in a high-octane 12-round duel. Kicking off the pay-per-view telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, undefeated two-division world champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade steps into the ring for a 10-round tremendous middleweight conflict in opposition to Laurel, Maryland-native Demond Nicholson.
Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) is the newest within the pantheon of excellent Philadelphia fighters, combining elite boxing expertise with pure energy in each fingers. After two appearances on SHOBOX: The New Technology®, the 25-year-old Ennis graduated to headlining his first SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast in April 2021, as he grew to become the primary fighter to cease former world champion Sergey Lipinets. He adopted up that efficiency with a powerful first-round stoppage of Thomas Dulorme in October of that 12 months, earlier than most lately blasting out Custio Clayton in two rounds in Could in his ninth look on SHOWTIME®. The knockout victory gave Ennis 19 KOs in his final 20 fights, with the one blemish being a no-decision within the first spherical in opposition to Chris van Heerden in December 2020.
“I can’t wait to begin 2023 off proper by placing on one other explosive efficiency for my followers,” mentioned Ennis. “I respect all my opponents and am coaching tougher than ever to return out victorious on January 7 to maneuver one step nearer to changing into world champion. Subsequent 12 months goes to be essentially the most vital 12 months of my profession and all of it begins with this battle. My time is now.”
The 26-year-old Chukhadzhian (21-1, 11 KOs) rose up the IBF rankings with a pair of stoppage victories in 2022, dispatching of Ryan Martin in eight rounds in January previous to retiring Blake Minto after six rounds in July. A local of Kiev, Ukraine, Chukhadzhian now fights out of Germany as he prepares to make his U.S. debut on January 7. The one blemish on his report got here in his second professional battle, a three-round split-decision loss in a tournament-style bout.
“When the supply to battle Jaron Ennis got here to us, we instantly agreed,” mentioned Chukhadzhian. “Ennis is an excellent boxer. Nonetheless, each Armenian and Ukrainian blood flows by way of my veins, and I’m not touring to the U.S. for a examine, however with the objective of exhibiting that all the onerous work we put in was not in useless. We’re getting ready within the health club, the place there isn’t a water and light-weight due to the conflict. However what doesn’t break us solely makes us stronger. I’m assured I’ll have my hand raised on January 7!”
Tickets for the dwell occasion, which is promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions, are on sale now and will be bought on-line at ticketmaster.com and capitalonearena.com. The Ennis vs. Chukhadzhian bout is promoted in affiliation with D&D Boxing.
