IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis takes on Karen Chukhadzhian in our featured boxing attraction of the weekend.
Ennis overcame the defensively sound Chukhadzhian in their first encounter, and boxing odds have Ennis a -3,000 favorite for Saturday's rematch.
Here are my best Ennis vs. Chukhadzhian predictions from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for November 9.
Ennis vs Chukhadzhian prediction and pick
- My fight prediction
Ennis moneyline (-3,000 at BetMGM) - My best bet
Over 6.5 rounds (-160 at BetMGM)
Fight analysis
There are a lot of fans out there who believe Jaron “Boots” Ennis has the goods. From what we’ve seen so far, it’s hard to disagree.
He has power, speed, finishing skills, and he’s genuinely fun to watch. Most of his fights are one-sided and exciting, and he’s itching for a marquee showdown that keeps eluding him. I say “most,” because the one fight that made Ennis look ordinary came against Karen Chukhadzhian last year.
Ennis won that fight clearly, but it was ugly. Chukhadzhian was able to neutralize all the things Ennis does well by fighting slow, making it ugly, and working behind a tight defense. While the fight was never in danger of getting away from Ennis, Chukhadzhian managed to dull the luster a bit, and Ennis’ team has been trying their best to avoid this rematch ever since.
It's not necessarily due to the threat of Chukhadzhian prevailing in the rematch, but because he could stink it out again and hurt Ennis’ bottom line. If Ennis comes in too comfortable or not focused enough, Chukhadzhian will be able to fight ugly and slow his opponent down to the point where rounds are hard to score.
That said, it should be easy for Chukhadzhian to improve on his previous performance considering he lost every round and only landed a paltry 17% of his punches, including just five of 200 jabs.
I expect more of the same here, as Ennis was too sharp for him the first time around. Back "Boots" to seal the deal and make it 2-0 against the hard-to-watch Chukhadzhian.
Best best analysis
Chukhadzhian is a solid defender and managed to disrupt Ennis’ offense and neutralize his power, but he couldn’t capitalize on it. I see a similar fight unfolding where Chukhadzhianstays back with his hands up, hoping to lure Ennis in where he’ll punch and clutch, getting outworked as the rounds go by.
Ennis will likely push harder for a stoppage if he feels the fight is firmly in his favor, but he will have to settle for a decision once more. My best bet is the fight eclipsing 6.5 rounds.
Jaron Ennis vs Karen Chukhadzhian odds
| Method of victory | Jaron Ennis | Karen Chukhadzhian |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -4,000 | +1,500 |
| Win by KO/TKO | -550 | +2,500 |
| Win by points or decision | +380 | +3,500 |
| Draw | +3,500 | +3,500 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 11-7.
Jaron Ennis vs Karen Chukhadzhian tale of the tape
| Ennis | Chukhadzian | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Age | 28 |
| 5-foot-10 | Height | 5-foot-9 |
| 147 | Weight | 147 |
| 74 inches | Reach | 74 inches |
| 32-0 (29 KO) | Record | 24-2 (13 KO) |
Not intended for use in MA.
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