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Jaron Boots Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian 2 Review by King P
It was great to be back at the Wells Fargo Arena to see the hometown kid Jaron “Boots” Ennis fighting for his Philly fan base again. Boots is loved by the city, and I was interested in seeing if he could send the fans home happy again.
The undercard had some hometown kids show out, as Super Bantamweight prospect Dennis Thompson stopped Edgar Ortiz Jr. in two rounds, and Welterweight Ismail Muhammad scored a unanimous decision victory over Nelson Morales
Main Card Highlights
The main card kicked off with the return of Austin “Ammo” Williams taking on Gian Garrido. The last time we saw Ammo, he was stopped in brutal fashion by Hamzah Sheeraz. It was only right to wonder how Ammo would look coming back from that. He was a little fidgety and restless at times in the fight but eventually turned up the volume and got Garrido out of there in the fifth round. A good victory for Ammo as he looks to climb his way back up to title contention in the middleweight division.
Next up was young Light Heavyweight prospect Khalil Coe, taking on Manuel Gallegos. Gallegos was last seen a year and a half ago at 168 against Diego Pacheco, who stopped Gallegos in the fourth round. Given the layoff and the move up in weight, one would only think that Coe would be able to put on a performance that gave us something to talk about. Well, he did just that… but not in an effective way.
Coe started off aggressively and tried to line up Gallegos with some winging uppercuts. While he had some success, Gallegos was able to weather the storm. By the fourth round, Gallegos turned the tide on Coe, whose conditioning (or lack thereof) started to rear its ugly head. Gallegos pressured Coe and unloaded a barrage of heavy punches (including several to the body) that sent him to the canvas multiple times. By the ninth round, it was clear that Coe did not have much left, and the ref waved off the fight after another knockdown.
Ray Ford’s Dominance
Next up was the return of Ray Ford. This was now the third time we have seen Ford this year, coming off back-to-back fight-of-the-year candidates with Otabek Kholmatov and Nick Ball. This time he made his debut at 130 against Orlando Gonzalez.
Nicknamed “Savage,” Ford fought like one, blitzing Gonzalez multiple times with a barrage of power punches and dropping him twice with sharp hooks. Ford brought power up with him to 130, and although he could not seem to put the finishing touch on it and stop Gonzalez, it was still an incredibly good performance. He put a hurting on Gonzalez and walked away with a wide unanimous decision.
Co-Main Event: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Shine
The co-main event saw Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez defend his newly won WBC Super Flyweight title against Pedro Guevara. Guevara is a crafty veteran who has given good work to numerous top-level fighters. He is no pushover.
But Bam is so special, he made Pedro look like one. From the opening bell, Bam put pressure on Guevara, attacking him numerous times to the body. In the third round, Bam dropped Pedro with a sharp left hand, then followed it up with a nice uppercut that sent Guevara down for the count. A dominant performance by Bam, who is showing every fight why he is special.
Main Event: Boots vs. Karen 2
And now it was time for the main event: Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian Part 2. Jaron won the first fight, but many were not happy with his performance against Karen as stoppage was expected. Instead, Boots chased Karen around for twelve rounds en route to a very boring unanimous decision. Fans were curious if he could adjust to get Karen out of there this time around.
The real change, however, was made by Karen, who made it a point to stand in the pocket. This was Boots’ wheelhouse, but Karen stood his ground and did not wilt. Not only did he not fade, but he was giving just as good as he was taking. Karen landed multiple shots on Boots, including a couple of hard hooks. Ennis did not look fazed, kept pressuring Karen, and dropped him in the fifth round.
Karen survived the onslaught, though, and kept going blow-for-blow with Boots. It was another fight where Ennis took too many punches but managed to get in plenty of his own offense. Although this was a much better and more entertaining fight, Boots failed to get the stoppage and had to settle for another unanimous decision victory.
Post-Fight Reflections
In the post-fight press conference, Boots told the media that he was not pleased with his performance and that he believed the weight cut took a lot out of him. Ennis said it might be time for him to finally move up to 154. Eddie Hearn said he would speak to Boots and his team to discuss the possibilities of staying at welterweight longer. They would like to unify with one of the other champions at 147, but if not, then a move up to 154 would be imminent.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Boots. The crowd was into the fight and very entertained, so you could say the night was still a success. Until next time…
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Fight Report – Robson Conceicao vs O’Shaquie Foster 2 Fight Report by Patscorpio
Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, set the stage for an electrifying night of boxing that captivated fans from the opening bell to the final decision. Despite the long drive from Massachusetts, I found myself back at one of my favorite venues, eagerly anticipating the main event: a rematch between O’Shaquie Foster and Robson Conceicao. This rematch felt necessary, as Foster looked to reclaim his WBC Super Featherweight title after a controversial loss to Conceicao. Conceicao had been on a little bit of a streak lately. Getting a draw with WBO Super Featherweight Champion Emanuel Navarrete two fights ago. Although going down twice in the fight, there was an argument that Conceicao should have won that night. This would lead to another title shot and surprising win. Conceicao was out to prove that the win over Foster was no fluke and he was a legit champion.
Kicking Off with a Brutal Knockout
The night opened with a bang as heavyweight Damian Knyba delivered a crushing one-punch knockout against Richard Lartey in the third round. Lartey couldn’t recover, and the referee waived off the count, marking a significant moment in Knyba’s rise as a heavyweight contender.
Santana Overpowers Baez
Eduardo Baez, known for his tenacity, took on Yan Santana in a thrilling matchup. Baez showed resilience, but Santana’s powerful punches wore him down, and by the fourth round, a series of brutal combinations led to the referee calling off the fight. Santana’s impressive power was evident, putting Baez away in an intense showcase of his talent.
Quick Work by Ali Felix
Dominican prospect Ali Felix faced Rashad Coulter in the next bout. Felix only needed two rounds to defeat Coulter, despite Coulter’s protests about the stoppage. The small Dominican contingent in the crowd roared in support, adding to the event’s vibrant energy.
Jahi Tucker vs. Quilisto Madera: A Rough Fight
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
The battle between Jahi Tucker and Quilisto Madera was intense from the start. Tucker, fighting for his contract, came out aggressive. After a rough back-and-forth, Tucker secured a stoppage in the final round with a chopping right that sent Madera stumbling. Tucker’s victory was hard-fought and well-deserved.
A Split Decision Draw for Abraham Nova vs. Humberto Galindo
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Fan-favorite Abraham “Super” Nova, complete with his mascot, faced Humberto Galindo in an exciting bout that went the distance. Despite Nova’s solid performance, the match ended in a split draw, with judges’ scores at 97-93 Galindo, 96-94 Nova, and 95-95. Many fans felt Nova edged out the win, but Galindo’s pressure made for a compelling contest.
Local Favorite Bryce Mills Defeats Mike Ohan Jr.
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Local hero Bryce Mills entered the ring to thunderous applause as he faced Massachusetts’ Mike Ohan Jr. Mills brought intensity from the start, landing powerful shots that led Ohan’s corner to call the fight after six rounds. Mills claimed victory via TKO, much to the delight of his hometown fans.
Muratalla Stuns Perez
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Raymond Muratalla took on Jesus Perez, who was coming off an upset victory over former champion Jo Jo Diaz. Muratalla showcased his skill in the second round, knocking down Perez twice and landing follow-up shots that left Perez unable to continue.
The Main Event: Foster Reclaims His Title
(Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
In the highly anticipated rematch, O’Shaquie Foster looked determined to reclaim his title from Robson Conceicao. The fight was a technical battle, with each fighter displaying skill and strategy. Foster managed to push the pace and seemed to wait for Conceicao to tire. In a close contest that went to the scorecards, Foster emerged victorious via a split decision, regaining his WBC Super Featherweight title. While waiting to conduct post fight interviews, one of the monitors ringside was focused on both fighters in the respective dressing rooms. Conceicao with marks all over his face, Foster with a big bag of ice on his hands. It definitely was a hard fight for both men.  The night at Turning Stone was filled with excitement, powerful performances, and intense bouts, making it a memorable experience for fans and fighters alike.