By Eóin Kennedy
Not long after the great state of Pennsylvania played its customary key role in electing a new President of the USA, the rest of the world will turn attentions elsewhere but for boxing fans, the fact that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez are defending their world titles in Philadelphia this Saturday night, means that focus will remain on the Keystone State for another day. In our latest edition of Boxing Briefs, we take a look at Ennis’ options beyond tonight’s fight, and other happenings from the world of boxing.
Is it Time for Boots to go to 154 Pounds Already?
It doesn’t feel like Jaron Ennis has been a household name at the top of the welterweight division for too long, but it may be time for the IBF world champion to already consider jumping up to light-middleweight, once he has taken care of his rematch with Karen Chukhadzhian tonight, of course. Philadelphia native, Ennis, has struggled to attract marquee opponents at welterweight and the fact he has to rematch Chukhadzhian proves that there’s either a dearth of talent at 147-pounds or else fighters are avoiding him. It’s a bit of both really. Welterweight was the hottest division in boxing for a long time, but the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence fight put a bow on that era of the division and they both are now plying their trade upstairs at light-middleweight. Not only have the pay-per-view stars migrated north in the weight classes, but the crop emerging at welterweight doesn’t include any names that make you feel they will offer Ennis a lucrative pay-day should he stick around. Yes, Ennis is so talented that is likely to sweep up all four belts in a weakened division given the opportunity, but the question is how long it will it take to make all the fights necessary to do that. In aiming to become undisputed champion at welterweight Ennis will likely hang around too long and witness Crawford and Spence retire out of the sport before he moves up in weight, so from a business perspective travelling this route would be a mistake. Tonight he must take care of Chukhadzhian in front of his home fans but afterwards Jaron Ennis should be relinquishing his IBF title and going after Crawford, Spence, Sebastian Fundora, Jermell Charlo and others at 154-pounds.
Ben Whitaker vs Liam Cameron 2
Olympic silver medalist Ben Whitaker has been one of boxing’s most flamboyant operators inside just eight professional fights but already the Englishman is facing serious questions about his career. Whitaker’s draw with Liam Cameron in Saudi Arabia ended in bizarre circumstances and he has been silent for the most part since. Cameron’s story in boxing is incredible and needs more word count than is available here to be explained but in short, the contrast between the two fighter’s stories couldn’t be more stark and as a result they are natural foils for one another, in the same way Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr were. Having come to the professional ranks with so many voices shouting about Whitaker’s potential and how he was the future of British boxing, no voice louder than his own perhaps, it is now imperative that he deals with the Cameron situation in the way a would-be-champion should. He should hold his hands up and admit it was a bad night at the office and that he struggled a bit with Cameron before the WWE style ending that prematurely called a halt to things. But is that how Whitaker feels? Perhaps not. Perhaps he felt the Cameron fight was a tougher than he expected, and he saw things in his compatriot that aren’t that easy to figure out. Whitaker’s promoter, Ben Shalom, was noncommittal when talking to Sky Sports about who his opponent will be when he returns next spring, but getting Cameron rematched sooner rather than later is advisable, otherwise his career will be plagued with accusations of swerving the fight.
Taylor-Serrano 2 Flying Under the Radar
It’s just over two and a half years since Katie Taylor narrowly bettered Amanda Serrano in the most famous female professional boxing match of all time and less than a week until their rematch. The first fight between the respective Irish and Puerto Rican icons was accompanied by an intensive marketing campaign with the fight itself in Madison Square Garden, New York, feeling like the climax of a longer chain of events. The rematch has lacked the same feverish sense of anticipation which is strange because the first fight was an instant classic and both fighters have continued to ascend in their careers since, so neither Taylor or Serrano are considered more damaged brands than two years ago. The lack of build up for Taylor-Serrano 2 may be attributed to the fact that the fight will take place on the undercard of a freakshow main event, Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul. The column inches and YouTube minutes have been dominated by the moral dilemma that comes with having a 56-year-old and a 27-year-old fight one another regardless of the older man’s, Tyson’s, pedigree in the sport. While you’re wrestling with whether or not your conscience agrees with Tyson vs Paul, don’t forget about Taylor vs Serrano, it should be another cracker between two female legends of boxing, this time in Arlington, Texas.
More Disgruntlement at Matchroom?
There’s no denying the success both UK powerhouse promoters, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, have been having in recent years. For a period when Anthony Joshua was at his peak and while Tyson Fury was still on a cocaine and booze infused bender, Warren and Hearn still hated one another and it looked like the young pup Hearn might have won the war against his veteran rival Warren. Not only has Queensbury top man, Frank Warren, proved to be the old dog for the hard road, he also showed he’s as cute as a fox by getting into bed with Turki Al Sheikh before Matchroom and Hearn. They all play nicely together now and regardless of how their fighters have fared out in recent months, both Queesnbury and Matchroom will have healthy bank balances at present in no small part thanks to the Saudi injection of cash courtesy of Al-Sheikh. But Matchroom and Hearn seem to have a problem that their rivals don’t and that’s keeping all their UK fighters engaged. Joe Cordina is the latest fighter from a certain crop that graduated from the Team GB Olympic team to sign with Matchroom and has ended up questioning his future with the promotion. Cordina’s old amateur teammates Lawrence Okolie and Joshua Buatsi both had public splits from Matchroom and Hearn and in a recent interview with The Stomping Ground, Welshman Cordina sounded like he was a little bit out in the cold from Hearn now as well. Cordina stated that he ”haven’t had a phone call from Eddie” when asked about his future. Hearn will no doubt and quite justifiably retort that Cordina, like Okolie, became a world champion and headlined shows in his home city while a Matchroom fighter. Buatsi was also a headline act at home in London and a mandatory challenger for world titles while on Hearn’s books so the trio certainly can’t complain about lack of opportunities, but there does seem to be a pattern of once valued fighter’s relationships with Hearn fizzling out or breaking down. Let see how the Cordina situation will play out.