There were no surprises in the two main bouts of the Matchroom Boxing event organized by Eddie Hearn on Saturday night at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The two headliners, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, both successfully defended their respective world titles, though in different styles. While Rodriguez wowed the audience by dismantling the experienced Pedro Guevara with a near-perfect performance, Ennis left some doubts, winning over Karen Chukhadzhian in a less convincing manner than expected.
Jesse Rodriguez vs. Pedro Guevara, WBC Super Flyweight Title
Jesse Rodriguez’s record is simply stunning for a 24-year-old boxer. His victories over Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards, and Juan Francisco Estrada are impressive, but even more remarkable is what he brings to the ring each time.
Once again, the fighter trained by Robert Garcia showcased his exceptionally well-rounded boxing style: a wide range of punches, pressure, reflexes, incredible footwork, and killer instinct—all of which overwhelmed a very solid fighter like Guevara, as if he were a novice.
The Mexican boxer tried with all his might to contain the aggressive champion, but it was like trying to stop a tsunami with an umbrella. After easily winning the first two rounds, Rodriguez finished the fight in the third with two impressive knockdowns. First with a perfect one-two, then with a sensational right uppercut—referee Ricky Gonzalez had no choice but to stop the fight.
Already close to the top of the P4P rankings, Rodriguez continues to improve with each fight, and if he keeps progressing, he could secure a prominent place in boxing history. Now fans hope he’ll have the chance to unify the super flyweight world titles before seeking glory in the bantamweight division.
Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian, IBF Welterweight Title
Many fans were disappointed by the announcement of this match, as Ennis had already decisively won all twelve rounds in their previous fight on January 7, 2023, showcasing a clear superiority over the tough Ukrainian boxer.
This difference in skill levels seemed evident again on Saturday, at least until the seventh round. Although Chukhadzhian fought with immense courage and landed some good shots, he appeared unable to cope with Ennis’s speed, creativity, and reactivity, which even resulted in a knockdown in the fifth round.
However, in the second half of the fight, the momentum gradually shifted. Obsessed with trying to score a KO, Ennis lost his rhythm, constantly throwing himself into attacks without maintaining the distance needed to land his best shots, ultimately making things easier for his challenger.
Chukhadzhian managed to capitalize on this, tying Ennis up in close-range exchanges and often landing first while the American lunged at him carelessly, neglecting his defense. Only in the tenth round did Ennis’s frantic attempts at landing heavy shots pay off, putting the Ukrainian in trouble and forcing him to use stalling tactics that cost him a penalty point.
However, Boots couldn’t build on this momentum and continued to make several mistakes in the final two rounds, so much so that the judges’ wide scorecards—granting Ennis a lead of 6, 8, and even 12 points—seemed frankly exaggerated.
It will be interesting to see whether, after this underwhelming performance, Ennis will find high-level opponents more willing to face him.