Boots Ennis Stops Avanesyan In One-Way Philadelphia Traffic

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Jaron “Boots” Ennis was at home in Philadephia and closed out the Wells Fargo Center with a fifth-round stoppage over David Avanesyan to retain his IBF Welterweight title. With the win, it’s Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) first under the Matchroom Boxing Banner. This also was his 1st win in his native Philadelphia since 2018.

From the opening bell, if you thought Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 KOs) had a shot, that was stopped quickly as fast as the low blow in the opening round.

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Avanesyan was game and did what he is known for, pressing forward and trying to punch through Ennis’s guard. That worked in spots, but the consistent body attack from Ennis complied with a comparable size difference form, which made this feel like a matter of when it would be rather than if.

That happened in the fifth round when Ennis gave a right hand to Avanesyan, who was sent down for the first time in the fight. Avanesyan was able to beat the count and survive the round, but the packed crowd in Philadelphia was sensing that the end was near. Once the bell ended the round, so did Avanesyan’s corner. The official ruling is corner stoppage at the request of the ringside decision. One-way traffic here for Ennis is what everyone expected going in. Ennis said after the fight he said he felt “off.” It wasn’t noticeable here.

Hackett Decsisons Dobson in Matchroom Debut

The co-main event put Jalil Hackett and Peter Dobson in a matchup that, from the opening bell, saw two fighters staying in range. Both succeeded, but Hackett was getting the better of the exchanges. Hackett won unanimously with scorecards of 97-93 x 2, 96-94 over Dobson. The win moves Hackett to 9-0 and Dobson to 16-2. A fascinating scrap leading into Boots Ennis in the main event.

This was apparent in the fourth round as the 21-year-old Hackett from Washington, D.C, began teeing off on Dobson with left hooks and combinations. After the fourth round, referee Harvey Dock went to Dobson’s corner to say he was okay; his corner stated he was fine. A gnarly lump above Dobson’s left eye formed from an elbow in the fifth. Despite being beaten to the punch most of the fight, the 34-year-old Dobson had his best round in the seventh. However, it was too little too late as the exchanges started to become less fiery, and fatigue for fighters set in.

Khalil Coe Stops Ritter In Two

The Jaron “Boots” Ennis-David Avanesyan card opened with quick work. Khalil Coe improved it to 8-0-1 with a second-round stoppage over replacement Kwame Ritter (11-1). Coe got the action going after a feel-out first round with a left that froze Ritter and then immediately sent down to the canvas with an overhand right for the first knockdown of the night.  Ritter beat the 10-count but spent the rest of the second round in self-defense and survival as Coe kept the pressure. The referee finally stopped the fight to end this at 1:59 of the second round.

Skye Nicolson is the new WBC Champion at 126.

The vacant Women’s WBC Featherweight title was on the line as Skye Nicolson took on Dyana Vargas. Skye Nicholson made it look easy in capturing her first title in a unanimous decision win over Dyana Vargas. All three judge’s scorecards were all in agreeance of 100-90. With the win, Nicholson moves to 11-0. Vargas falls to 19-2.

Nicolson was in control from opening bell.
Skye Nicolson punches Dyana Vargas during their fight at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Vargas had trouble getting anything going early, as Nicolson had the jab working from the onset. That would be the action over ten rounds. An academic after the third round, as Nicolson’s footwork dictated the pace and Vargas’s inability to let her hands go. There were moments in the fifth round where Nicolson landed an overhand left that staggered Vargas. Still, having only one stoppage in her career, the DAZN broadcast asking for number two didn’t make it happen, as the final bell ended after 20 minutes of dominance by Nicholson.



Last Updated on 07/15/2024