Jaron “Boots” Ennis, “Bam” Rodriguez Set to Headline Philly Fight Card

Semi-substantiated rumors abound that Jaron “Boots” Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) will return to the ring November 9, in Philadelphia, against IBF mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs) and that he’ll share the bill with a Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-Pedro Guevara co-feature.

If true, this will be Eddie Hearn’s real-life application of the old phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

The Matchroom Boxing bossman was put into a tough spot earlier this month, after efforts to make a unification bout with WBO 147 lb. titlist Brian Norman Jr. fizzled and he subsequently lost the Ennis-Chukhadzhian IBF purse bid to the Ukrainian’s promoter, P2M-Box Promotion.

Hearn found himself without promotional rights to his new acquisition’s next welterweight title defense and was considering the possibility of having Ennis vacate the title for a move up to junior middleweight.

Philadelphia’s Ennis had already faced the mobile and awkward Chukhadzhian in July of 2023, winning every round on every scorecard, but turning in the dullest, least inspiring showing of his career in the process. The lackluster fight had many doubting Ennis’ actual high-end potential.

Upon hearing that Chukhadzhian was the unavoidable mandatory challenger, Ennis and Hearn had been working overtime trying to avoid a rematch of that buzzkill pairing.

The IBF, however, has stood firm on their order and, now, apparently, Ennis and Hearn have come around on their willingness to grit their teeth, pinch their nostrils, and get this mandatory defense over with.

To add intrigue to what looks to be a tedious part 2 of a non-rivalry, Hearn is reportedly attaching a “Bam” Rodriguez bout to the card.

“Bam will fight in the U.S. next. We’re planning a really big show for November in the US. It could be on the East Coast,” Hearn told iFL TV. “We want to continue the success that we’ve had (with Boots) in Philadelphia. We’re speaking to Karen’s team; we’ll see what’s next.”

The 24-year-old Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) is coming off a stellar showing against Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada, stopping the veteran Mexican star with a body shot in the seventh round to capture Estrada’s WBC super flyweight title.

Rodriguez is set to face former light flyweight world titlist Pedro Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs), who is coming off a split decision victory over Andrew Moloney in May.

A 35-year-old, 16-year veteran, the native of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico is a tenacious battler, perhaps better defined by his close next-level losses to the likes of Carlos Cuadras and John Riel Casimero than his high-water mark victories.

Anything “Bam,” however, is usually entertaining and fans will probably appreciate the frenetic energy from his efforts before the night closes with what will likely be an anticlimactic whimper.