Karen Chukhadzhian Picks Favorite in Ennis vs. Stanionis Clash

Ukrainian welterweight Karen Chukhadzhian (24-3, 13 KOs), who once shared the ring with Jaron Ennis, has shared his thoughts ahead of the April 12 unification bout between IBF champion Jaron Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) and WBA titleholder Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs).

— Stanionis is being called the biggest test of Ennis' career. Are expectations for Eimantas perhaps too high?

— Eimantas is a solid fighter with great conditioning. He didn’t become a world champion by accident. That said, he hasn’t been the most active in the ring, so I’m picking Ennis to win.

In terms of stakes, this is the biggest fight of Jaron’s career — his first unification bout. That’s probably why people are calling it his main test. Plus, Stanionis has some name recognition in the U.S., more than I do, or even Avanesyan.

— Stanionis is known for his physical strength. But what about his technique — could it pose problems for Ennis?

— I actually think Stanionis is stylistically perfect for Ennis. He tends to block punches rather than avoid them. And Ennis knows how to break through defenses — if you let him punch, he’s going to punch. As for what might trouble Jaron — honestly, I don’t see much.

— How do you see the fight ending?

— Like I said, Stanionis is stylistically convenient for Ennis, so I’m going with Jaron.

Will it go the distance? Hard to say — that depends on how many clean shots Eimantas absorbs. Either way, it’s a fantastic fight, and I can’t wait to watch it.

The bout between Ennis and Stanionis is set for April 12 in Atlantic City, USA. Full analysis and detailed stats for the showdown are available at the provided link.