Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has revealed that IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) has been mandated to face Ukrainian mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs).
"His mandatory defense is already scheduled, and I’m not thrilled about it. Karen Chukhadzhian is a good fighter, but he’s already fought him before.
There’s nothing we can do about it; we want to make the biggest fights possible. It’s disappointing, but if it’s a fight we have to check off quickly – well, we’ll do that," Hearn stated.
The boxers first met in January 2023, where Ennis secured a unanimous decision victory.
Since that loss, Chukhadzhian has won three consecutive fights – two by stoppage and one by decision.