Jaron Ennis Defends IBF Welterweight Title in Hometown Match

Jaron “Boots” Ennis Returns Home to Philadelphia for IBF Welterweight Title Defense on July 13

On July 13, Jaron “Boots” Ennis will defend his IBF welterweight title in his hometown of Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia 76ers. The 26-year-old Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) was originally set to face Cody Crowley, but Crowley had to withdraw due to eye issues, and David Avanesyan (30-4-1, 18 KOs) will now step in as the challenger.

Challenger Avanesyan Steps Up

Avanesyan, 35, hails from Newark, Nottinghamshire, in the U.K., and is best known for being stopped by Terence Crawford on BLK Prime in December 2022. Despite the change in opponent, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn remains optimistic about the matchup. “It’s a tough fight for ‘Boots’, but we wanted a tough fight,” said Hearn. “Thank you to Avanesyan for stepping up. He has the name value, and you know what you’re going to get – a tough, come-forward guy who won’t take a step backward.”

Ennis Praised by Promoter Hearn

Hearn also praised Ennis, who will be fighting under the Matchroom Boxing banner for the first time in 2024. A common criticism of the exciting Ennis has been his inactivity, as he fought twice in 2023, once in January and then in July when he stopped Roiman Villa. Hearn, who also promotes Andy Cruz, the brilliant Cuban boxer who trains with Ennis’ father, Derek ‘Bozy’ Ennis, believes Ennis is one of the top fighters in the sport. “In my opinion, [Avanesyan is] facing one of the pound-for-pound top fighters in the sport,” said Hearn.

Philadelphia’s Vibrant Fight Culture

Hearn expressed surprise and disappointment that Ennis has not yet had a “big fight” in his hometown, as Philadelphia, known for its rich boxing history with figures like Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins, has a vibrant fight culture. “I can’t believe that it hasn’t been done earlier,” said Hearn. “I mean, it’s not rocket science. It’s a natural thing to do. Philadelphia is a great fight city. They’re a knowledgeable crowd. They have a true world champion, a great fighter in ‘Boots’ Ennis, and he’s going to light up the city.”