PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jaron Ennis’ latest 147-pound title defense could be his last in the weight class: The Philadelphia fighter with plans to win more championships is about to move up for a new group of challengers.

Ennis defended his share of the 147-pound championship with a flat performance against his hometown crowdscoring a unanimous decision victory over Ukrainian fighter Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Known as Boots, Ennis won 119-107, 117-109, 116-110 on the scorecards to retain the IBF welterweight championship.

“I felt like it was a good performance,” Ennis said. “It could have been a lot better.”

He Ennis, 27 years old.from Northwest Philadelphia, fought for the second time this year at Philadelphia Stadium, home of the 76ers and Flyers.

Ennis has expressed his desire to fight Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford. He would also like to have a chance with Canelo Álvarez. Ennis also hasn’t ruled out moving up to 154 pounds.

If Ennis decides to surrender the 147-pound championship belt, the next fight could be lucrative. Ennis would be in line to fight WBC interim super welterweight champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. in February in Saudi Arabia.

“I want to fight the best,” Ennis said. “When you fight the best, you will be better.”

Ennis (33-0) was on the verge of victory in the fifth round after a series of body shots dropped Chukhadzhian to his right knee in the corner and angered the Philadelphia crowd.

Ennis’ corner yelled at the fighter to take out Chukhadzhian “get out of here already!” deep into the fight. Ennis has been touted as one of the rising stars in a sport that desperately needs one in the United States.

He didn’t lose the home crowd. Ennis surely didn’t win over many other fans, especially those who first saw the card on DAZN, and a stoppage was never within reach, although going for the big KO seemed to be his only goal.

“I know in my next fight I’ll be good, I’ll be better,” Ennis said.

It was a rematch of their January 2023 fight which Ennis won by unanimous decision. Ennis defended the welterweight title that same year against Roiman Villa in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and defeated David Avanesyan this year in his homecoming in Philadelphia.

The biggest problem for Ennis is his lack of defense.

Sure enough, Ennis stumbled in the first round after taking a big blow from his left hand, although he never got up. Chukhadzhian (24-3) was more assertive in the rematch, and he needed to be after a widely criticized performance in their first fight. He landed his share of body shots, but not enough to inflict serious damage or take enough rounds on the cards.

Ennis headlined a card in July that drew an astonishing 14,119 fans to the Wells Fargo Center.

Saturday night’s crowd fell short of July’s attendance mark, largely due to a rematch against a mediocre opponent. Still, around 10,000 fans were solidly behind Boots (he wore metal spikes on his shoulders and purple and white trunks as he walked to the ring accompanied by rapper G Herbo) and they all raised their smartphones when the ring announcer implored them to “Shine your light for Boots!”

“Nobody really wanted to see this fight,” Ennis said. “I took this fight to keep myself busy. He was my mandatory (defense), so I had to fight him.”

His fights are promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

“We know we can draw big crowds to Philadelphia,” Hearn said. “We love being here. Great crowd both times.”

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez successfully defended his share of the super flyweight title with a third-round TKO victory over Pedro Guevara. Rodriguez, 24, of San Antonio, He knocked down Guevara twice in the third, the second time he put the challenger on his back and that was enough for the referee to stop the fight.

Rodriguez (21-0) used a right hook to knock down Guevara (42-5-1) in the third round and remain atop the 115-pound division.

“I’m very happy, but I already knew it was going to happen that way,” he said. “I really thought he was going to stay there and fight some more.”

____

AP Sports: