Chukhadzhian promoters outbid Matchroom for Ennis title fight

Jaron Ennis swept Karen Chukhadzhian on the scorecards in their first meeting

Jaron “Boots” Ennis is set to make an impressive sum of money if he accepts his much-reviled mandatory rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian, though not from the expected source. Jake Donovan reports that Chukhadzhian’s promoters, P2M Box Promotions, outbid Matchroom Boxing by around half a million dollars for the rights to stage the bout.

Per IBF regulations, Ennis (32-0, 29 KO) will receive 65% of the winning bid, which totaled “just over” $2 million. That’s assuming, of course, that he goes through with it; Eddie Hearn claims that fellow welterweight titlists Brian Norman Jr, Eimantas Stanionis, and Mario Barrios all turned down fights with “Boots” despite alleged six-figure paydays. It wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see Ennis just ditch the belt and join Vergil Ortiz Jr at 154, where the elite seem much more willing to trade hands.

Then again, that’s quite a bit of money to face someone he’s already dominated. Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KO) became the only man in Ennis’ last 23 fights to take him the distance and did relatively well for himself, but failed to take a round or put Ennis in any real trouble.

Either way, we should find out very shortly.