WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 07: Jaron Ennis punches Karen Chukhadzhian in their Interim IBF ... [+]
Jaron “Boots” Ennis is one of the most exciting young boxers in the world today, and on Saturday, he’ll defend his welterweight title vs. David Avanesyan for the first time. But here’s something interesting: Ennis didn’t actually win the 147-pound belt he’ll be defending, so he might want to bring something extra special to the fight to prove he actually deserves to wear the hardware. Here’s everything you need to know about Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. David Avanesyan, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
After Terence Crawford gave up his version of the welterweight title (breaking his hold on the undisputed 147-pound championship), that sanctioning body elevated Ennis, who was already the interim titlist, to full titlist.
Originally, Ennis was set to fight Cody Crowley in his first title defense, but Crowley had to withdraw for medical reasons. Now, as a late replacement, the 35-year-old Avanesyan gets another chance at winning a world belt (he’s 0-for-2 so far in his career, but he’s had a solid run at the European champion level in recent years). Ennis said he thinks Avanesyan will put up a better fight than Crowley would have (even though Avanesyan only had about a month’s notice that he was fighting Ennis).
“When I received the call to go into a tremendous battle with such a highly rated fighter, I did not need to be asked twice, especially when it is for a world title,” Avanesyan said. “This is what I love. I am fit and strong, and I am ready. This is my last world title chance and I have to take it. I do respect Ennis and his career as he has been perfect, but he has what I want and need.”
Ennis is a huge betting favorite, and there’s a good reason why. Boxing observers believe Ennis could be somewhere close to Crawford’s level – if not now, perhaps soon. In 2022, Avanesyan faced Crawford, and Crawford blew him away in the sixth round. If Ennis is as good as people think he might be, it’d make sense that he could pull off a similar exploit.
“The opponent switch doesn’t really mean anything to me,” Ennis said. “We have southpaws and orthodox in camp, pressure fighters, boxers. We do everything. We’re standing on business, I’m not going to go in there looking for the stoppage, but I’m going to have my fun, put on a show. I’ll let the knockout come to me.”
Here’s more info on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. David Avanesyan showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: David Avanesyan exchanges punches with Oskari Metz during the EBU ... [+]
Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. David Avanesyan odds
Unsurprisingly, Ennis is a large betting favorite at -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100), while Avanesyan is the +1100 underdog (win $1,100 on a $100 bet). The only reason to bet on Avanesyan’s money line is if you believe he could beat Ennis eight times out of 100. I don’t think that would happen, so that +1100 bet doesn’t hold enough value for me.
Even Ennis winning by stoppage at -700 doesn’t hold a ton of intrigue. It’s probably better to go with Ennis winning by stoppage in rounds 1-6 at -138 or in rounds 4-6 at +175. Still, you’d be walking a pretty thin line with that latter bet for not a ton of value.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. David Avanesyan records
Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) has some solid victories, but the biggest names on his resume (Sergey Lipinets, Thomas Dulorme, Juan Carlos Abreu) were past their prime when they fought him. You can probably put Avanesyan in that category as well.
You might remember Avanesyan (30-4-1, 18 KOs) from his breakout moment in 2016 when he upended Hall of Famer Shane Mosley by unanimous decision in what would be Mosley’s final fight. Avanesyan is also the only person thus far to beat Josh Kelly. But Avanesyan has also fallen at the hands of Terence Crawford, Lamont Peterson and Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. David Avanesyan prediction
Ennis is returning to Philadelphia to fight in front of thousands of his hometown fans. He’s going to use that momentum to crush Avanesyan. Say Ennis by stoppage in the fourth round.
UPDATE: Ennis looked fantastic throughout the fight, and Avanesyan did a nice job standing up to Ennis’ power and landing his own shots for as long as he could. Still, Ennis ended the night early with a fifth-round stoppage of Avanesyan. After Ennis knocked down Avanesyan in the fifth, he survived the rest of the round. But in the corner in between rounds 5 and 6, the doctor recommended that the referee halt the bout.
If you took Ennis’ money line, you made a $4 profit on a $100 wager. If you grabbed him to win by stoppage, you won $14 on that same $100 bet, and if you took him to win by stoppage in rounds 4-6, you won $175. If you were insightful to bet on Ennis winning in the fifth round, you earned an extra $600.
