Rising American star Jaron Ennis retained his IBF world welterweight title with a fifth-round stoppage of challenger David Avanesyan. The 27-year-old, fighting for the first time in over a year, showcased superior skill and power against his experienced Russian opponent.
Ennis faced some early challenges but gained momentum from the third round onwards, impressing over 14,000 fans at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. In the fifth round, he sent Avanesyan to the canvas and continued with a relentless assault until the bell.
The fight was halted as Avanesyan’s corner, advised by the ringside doctor, concluded their fighter had endured enough. Ennis, boasting an unbeaten record of 32 fights, expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting a slight timing issue.
Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Ennis, labeling him “the future of boxing,” and emphasized his potential. Ennis now eyes matchups with top contenders, notably targeting Terence Crawford, stating, “I want the big names.”
On the undercard, Australia’s Skye Nicolson successfully defended her WBC featherweight title with a unanimous points victory over Dyana Vargas of the Dominican Republic. The judges scored all 10 rounds in favor of Nicolson, highlighting her dominant performance.
