"Chukhadzhian Would Beat Most Boxers": World Reacts to Ennis' Victory
On the night of November 10 in Philadelphia, USA, IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) successfully defended his title against Ukrainian Karen Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs) via unanimous decision.
After the fight, Ennis hinted that he might move up in weight:
"Maybe it's time to step up to super welterweight. I felt good, but I think I’d be more comfortable in that division. I'm growing up—I'm already 27. I was prepared for everything Chukhadzhian brought, and it didn’t bother me. I'm happy with the win, but I wanted to show my best and finish with a knockout. I did a lot of damage, but maybe I rushed a bit,” Ennis said.
Chukhadzhian reflected on his performance, stating he had executed his game plan but fell short.
"I did my homework, but it wasn’t enough to beat him. He's a true champion. I don’t need to wish Jaron anything—he’s too good at welterweight. The difference from the first fight? I threw and took more punches. I'll leave the analysis to my coach,” Chukhadzhian commented.
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn, who represents Ennis, commended Chukhadzhian’s performance:
"The first fight between Ennis and Chukhadzhian was rough, but tonight was a great fight. I believe Chukhadzhian would beat most welterweights—he’s a genuinely good fighter. But Ennis aims to make fights entertaining, which means taking some hits. It’ll be different with the division’s champions and even Ortiz,” Hearn noted.
Chukhadzhian’s trainer Vyacheslav Senchenko praised his fighter's resilience and promised to continue working toward a world title:
"A tough fight, just as we expected. We believed in our victory and did everything we could. I'm proud of Karen; he’s a true warrior. After taking heavy hits, he kept moving forward. He’s a high-level boxer. People underestimate both Ennis and Karen. We came to the U.S. for a win, trained hard, and Karen was in great shape. We were disappointed afterward; we put in a lot of effort and wanted to win. But this is boxing. Karen has a big future, and I’ll do everything to help him become a champion,” said Senchenko.
Derek Ennis, Jaron’s father and coach, commented on his son's frustration during the fight:
"Jaron won most rounds, but he lacked his usual sharpness. I think he wasn’t too motivated for Chukhadzhian, especially after their first fight. You saw how frustrated he was with the clinching. He won, but couldn’t get the knockout. Karen’s a technical fighter and knows how to hold, which is what he did,” Ennis Sr. told Boxing News.
Other notable boxing figures weighed in on the fight as well.
WBA super welterweight champion Terence Crawford advised Ennis:
"I didn’t see the fight, but I heard about it. Jaron, stay focused and keep honing your skills. Not every night is the same. Never relax in this game if you want to reach the top. One slip-up can change everything."
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson defended the level of competition:
"At this level, we’re not fighting ‘taxi drivers’ like some say. Guys like Karen are serious fighters, coming in at their best. He came to spoil the show, and respect to Ennis for not letting that happen.”
Former world champion Regis Prograis shared his thoughts:
"This fight wasn’t great for Ennis. The other guy was tough, experienced, and tricky. It felt like Boots was trying to impress, talking to the crowd and his corner mid-fight. I think fighting at home distracted him. He’ll be better next time. Boxing is a lifetime of learning.”