After being forced to twiddle his thumbs and play the waiting game, Jaron “Boots” Ennis reluctantly accepted that his hard work will go unrewarded...at least for now. Although the 25-year-old phenom has successfully worked his way to the mandatory position in the IBF sanctioning body, a showdown against Errol Spence Jr. had become increasingly unlikely.
Of course, the powerful southpaw had spent most of his time working behind the scenes in the hopes that a matchup against Terence Crawford would come to fruition. While negotiations raged on, Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) acknowledged that his championship dreams would be put on hold. In the meanwhile, however, the Philadelphia slugger scoured the welterweight landscape, searching for the next best available opponent.
Ultimately, much to his dismay, the switch-hitting star will now take on Karen Chukhadzhian on January 7th, at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. Though he wasn't the happiest camper, Ennis admits that the show must go on.
“This is not who we were originally supposed to be fighting,” said Ennis during an interview with YSM Sports Media. “We originally were supposed to be fighting (Eimantas) Stanionis. I don’t know what happened but I gotta get what I can take right now. It is what it is. I really wanted that Stanionis fight.”
Stanionis, 28, has also complained about the logjam that currently resides at the top of the welterweight division. Initially, although all signs pointed to an undisputed showdown taking place between Spence and Crawford, talks would eventually stall before both sides opted to go in another direction.
Crawford, 35, retained his WBO crown last weekend with a knockout of fringe contender David Avanesyan. Spence, on the other hand, could be on the verge of taking on longtime rival, Keith Thurman.
Ennis, after scoring a concussive stoppage win over Custio Clayton in the second round earlier this year, was of the belief that the division’s biggest names would be forced to face him. Chukhadzhian, following 20 consecutive victories, has brazenly stepped up to the plate in search of his own career-defining moment.
While Ennis admits that his Lithuanian foe isn't the most intriguing opponent, with a world title opportunity lurking, he isn't willing to take him lightly.
“I go in there with every opponent and train hard like a world title fight. I'm a do what I always do, be better, sharper, smarter, stronger and come home with a knockout and look good doing it.”
