Boots Ennis, Bam Rodriguez Headline Philly Card Nov. 9

Two American pound-for-pound fighters team up for a card at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on November 9.

Hometown favorite Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis headlines in the main event, defending his IBF World Welterweight title in a rematch against Karen Chukhadzhian of Ukraine. In the co-main, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara.

The card is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and airs live worldwide on DAZN. Tickets go on pre-sale on Monday, September 23 at 12 noon ET, and on general sale the following day through Ticketmaster.

Rematch, Rinse, Repeat for Boots Ennis vs Chukhadzhian

Jaron “Boots” Ennis brought 14,000 fans to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and they weren't disappointed. Photo: Amanda Westcott, Matchroom.

Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) gave his hometown fans a thrill when he forced David Avanesyan to retire on his stool after five rounds in the first defense of his IBF title. The sold-out first was the first for Ennis at home since November 2018. It was the highest attendance for a boxing event in Philadelphia in over 40 years.

Because Ennis is on a quest to become the undisputed, unified welterweight champion, he has been forced by the IBF to take a rematch neither he nor boxing fans wanted. The IBF would not budge over its demands. It's a pointless fight, particularly since there was a tantalizing possibility of a unification fight with WBA champion Brian Norman Jr. But the pair could not agree over Norman Jr.'s purse requirements.

Arguably it's costing Matchroom Boxing far more to stage a pointless card rather than pay Norman Jr. what he wanted.  But Hearn at least did what he could to make it palatable by adding a solid co-main event with Rodriguez, a sensational talent.

So once again, Ennis faces mandatory challenger Chukhadzhian (24-2 13 KOs), who he beat decisively in January 2023. Remember? No, we didn't think so.

Chukhadzhian has two wins against Pietro Rossetti by ninth-round TKO and Harry Scarff by unanimous decision in May to find himself in the mandatory spot once again.

“I’m excited to be back headlining in my city again,” said Ennis. “I’m ready to continue dominating the division, making a big statement and showing everyone why I’m the best Welterweight in the world.”

Boots Ennis wants to pursue being an undisputed champion, so: Karen Chukhadzhian. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Ennis seems determined to make the most of the appearance.“It’s time to have some fun, keep crushing whoever is in front of me, put on a beautiful, dominant, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters, while defending and retaining my IBF world title in spectacular fashion. It’s time!”

“Dear boxing fans, I want to share with you the good news: on November 9, we will fight for the IBF World title against Ennis,” said Chukhadzhian. “I will have enough time to prepare and show a beautiful and spectacular fight. Champ, get ready for the battle, it will be hot!”

Let's be real. Ennis can treat this as a bit of a victory lap for his hometown fans, and the only real pressure on him will be to deliver enough entertainment in a hometown appearance to make the best of it.

Bam Rodriguez Defends Belts Against Guevera

Jesse Rodriguez drilled Juan Francisco Estrada with a left hook to the liver for the knockout win. Photo: Amanda Westcott, Matchroom

The far better matchup is in the co-feature. Two-weight division sensation Rodriguez of San Antonio, Texas (20-0 13 KOs), who joined the top five RING Magazine pound-for-pound rankings after his TKO victory with a vicious body shot over Juan Francisco Estrada in Phoenix in June.

Rodriguez hopes to make it a third straight stoppage win after forcing Sunny Edwards of England to retire after nine rounds of their flyweight unification fight last December in Phoenix.

But Rodriguez will surely face a determined effort from 35-year-old veteran Pedro Guevara of Mexico (42-4-1 22 KOs).  Guevara, the former WBC Light-Flyweight champion, won the interim WBC World Super-Flyweight title with an impressive win over Andrew Maloney in Perth, Australia in May.

Rodriguez assures his fans his belts aren't going anywhere. “On November 9, tune in to DAZN, get your tickets, and witness another exciting performance,” said Rodriguez.

Pedro Guevara thanked the Australian fans after his victory and said he'd give Andrew Moloney a rematch. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

“I am very happy to have this opportunity to fight Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez,” said Guevara. “I am very grateful to Matchroom, JD Promotions, and Bxstrs for getting me this fight.

“I am telling you right away that I am going to prepare to put on a war and a great show and to win on November 9 in Philadelphia. I am going with everything and for everything, Viva Mexico and Viva Mazatlan, Sinaloa.”

Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn dug down into his best sales techniques to put the card together and make it sound like a winner, versus the disappointment in the main event expressed by so many critics. You can't knock a man for trying.

“What a night we have in store in Philadelphia on November 9 – two of boxing’s elite stars on the same card to thrill the fans,” said Hearn. “Boots’ return to Philly in July was a spectacular night. The fans and the city got right behind him, and I can’t wait to return there and keep building this superstar on his doorstep.”

Hearn doesn't have to work as hard when discussing the return of Bam Rodriguez to the ring.

“And what can you say about Bam? His win over Estrada will be one of the performances of the year when the awards are handed out, and he rightly landed in the top five of the pound-for-pound list after it.

“Jesse is a bonafide superstar in his own right, so to have him join Jaron on this card is a massive treat for Philly’s great fight fans – and there’s plenty more great talents to be added to a night that is not to be missed.”