Jaron Ennis is looking forward to a bigger test against Terence Crawford after defeating David Avanesyan in a dominant fifth-round victory.
Ennis packed out the Wells Fargo Center last night. [July 13] In his first fight since being promoted to IBF World Champion in Philadelphia, Ennis produced a standout performance in front of a record-breaking crowd, submitting to Avanesyan's cornerback in round 5. The bout will mark Ennis' first for Matchroom Boxing, as he looks to have Eddie Hearn elevate him to the top of the welterweight division.
One fighter whose name always comes up alongside Ennis is former unbeaten welterweight champion Terence Crawford. Ennis was the mandatory challenger for Crawford's IBF title but the champion opted to move up to junior middleweight instead of facing the younger challenger. Ennis will now be aiming to face Crawford and win the other four welterweight titles he currently holds, and after a year away from the ring, he claims he is ready to showcase his skills against the top fighters in the division.
“Sign the contract,” Ennis said. “If Crawford wanted to fight, he would have stayed at 147 pounds. He's already said he wants to move up a weight class and go undefeated at 154 pounds.”
“I do not care [who I fight]”I want to fight the best. They bring out the best in me. Fighting guys who are as sharp as me makes me stronger. You never know if I'm fighting someone at my level or someone who's supposed to be at a higher level. I feel like I can be great. I had a year off so I think I have more tools in my arsenal. I just got the opportunity to fight the best.”
Ennis' performance was criticized online by Crawford, who questioned whether he was truly a world-class fighter. Ennis fought hard in the fourth and fifth rounds to close the bout, but was caught early by Avanesyan. However, Ennis was unconcerned about his early mistakes and claimed he would be more focused in the next bout.
“[Avanesyan] “He was moving a lot more than I expected,” Ennis said. “I thought he'd come out a little further. The timing was just a little off. I saw it all, the timing was just a little off. It's all going to be fine. I'll hit it better next time, a little sharper.”
Ennis landed powerful punches to Avanesyan's head and body throughout the bout, causing swelling in the Russian's face. Avanesyan initially looked like an immovable object, fighting back with punches and refusing to flinch. But Ennis was always confident he could stop the fight and, with the advice of his father in his corner, put in a masterful performance to end the bout in the fourth and fifth rounds.
“I knew I could stop him,” Ennis said. “I felt him crumbling every round, but I knew I was going to stop him. It was just a matter of time. When I went back to my corner, my dad just said, 'Have some fun, don't try to have any fun.' I wasn't trying to have any fun. I was just trying to relax and find my rhythm. In the fourth and fifth rounds I started to have fun, and in the fifth I caught him. That's all she said.”
