Photo Credit;Melina Pizano
Rising American boxing star Jaron Ennis has been hailed as "the future of boxing" following his impressive fifth-round stoppage of David Avanesyan, which allowed him to retain his IBF world welterweight title.
Ennis, 27, returned to the ring after a year-long hiatus and demonstrated his skill and power, overcoming a few shots from his seasoned opponent. The fight, held at the Wells Fargo Center in his hometown of Philadelphia, saw Ennis gradually take control after some competitive opening rounds. By the third round, Ennis began to dominate, thrilling over 14,000 fans in attendance.
The decisive moment came in the fifth round when Ennis sent the 35-year-old Russian challenger to the canvas. He then launched a relentless attack that continued until the round's end. The ringside doctor, in consultation with Avanesyan's corner, decided to stop the fight, declaring that the challenger had endured enough punishment.
Despite his victory, Ennis, who remains unbeaten in 32 bouts, commented, "I felt like my timing was a little off." His promoter, Eddie Hearn, was
quick to praise Ennis's performance, stating, "If he thinks that performance was off, the world of boxing ought to be very, very afraid. He’s the future of boxing. That's what he is."
Looking ahead, Ennis expressed his desire to face the sport's top competitors, specifically calling out Terence Crawford, saying, "I want the big names."
The event's undercard also featured a successful title defense. Australia's Skye Nicolson secured a unanimous points victory over Dyana Vargas of the Dominican Republic, retaining her WBC featherweight belt. Nicolson, 28, dominated the fight over 10 rounds, with all three judges scoring it 100-90 in favor of the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, although she did not manage to achieve a knockout.
Ennis's victory and Nicolson's solid defense highlight an exciting night of boxing, reinforcing Ennis's reputation as a formidable force and a promising future star in the sport.
