Is Ennis gonna vacate?

[crimsonfalcon07]

Do you think Ennis should go through with this rematch though? Would you actually watch the rematch if it happens?

Yes and yes. He avoided the WBO route that led to Bud and went IBF, timed his petitions for when Spence and Bud were tied to fights so he got the belt emailed, and if he doesn't defend it, he's functionally an email champ still. He wanted to play games and get a belt emailed to him, so now he needs to defend it. He ought to be interested in seeing if he can find a way to stop Chukadzian this time. If he was going to move to 154, why do it when there's no belts available? Nobody at 154 is going to fight him right now because he still brings nothing to the table. About the only other option he has is to bend over and take whatever fight Turki wants to offer him, if any. I like watching him fight, and if Hearn can't make a unification fight on his own, I'll still watch to see if he can stop the guy he couldn't before.

So you tell me this: what realistic options does he have other than this defense, and how does he gain just going back to being a contender at 154 with no title shot available for likely more than a year? A fight is a fight, and he claimed he wanted to stay active.

[kiaba360]

Yes and yes. He avoided the WBO route that led to Bud and went IBF, timed his petitions for when Spence and Bud were tied to fights so he got the belt emailed, and if he doesn't defend it, he's functionally an email champ still. He wanted to play games and get a belt emailed to him, so now he needs to defend it. He ought to be interested in seeing if he can find a way to stop Chukadzian this time. If he was going to move to 154, why do it when there's no belts available? Nobody at 154 is going to fight him right now because he still brings nothing to the table. About the only other option he has is to bend over and take whatever fight Turki wants to offer him, if any. I like watching him fight, and if Hearn can't make a unification fight on his own, I'll still watch to see if he can stop the guy he couldn't before.

So you tell me this: what realistic options does he have other than this defense, and how does he gain just going back to being a contender at 154 with no title shot available for likely more than a year? A fight is a fight, and he claimed he wanted to stay active.

I think Chukhadzhian should be a last resort. If Hearn cannot find a ranked 154lb opponent, then Chuk it must be. I'd like to see how Ennis performs when forced to travel, but I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to the rematch. I don't foresee Chuk increasing his aggression; he'll hope to get a decision with the strategy he employed the first time. I wouldn't mind a Crowley or Sasaki match-up afterwards, but there's no reason to campaign at 147 if the other titlists are interested in milking theirs. Either way, Ennis needs to start getting comfortable with the idea of moving up. Move up now, or fight Chuk and then move up after. MR should try to get Baraou (WBA #1, WBC #8) for Boots.