Ryan Garcia Challenges Jaron Ennis After Narrow Victory Over Karen Chukhadzhian
Ryan Garcia has weighed in on Jaron Ennis’s recent victory over Karen Chukhadzhian, expressing confidence that he could easily knock out the welterweight champion. The popular Californian boxer took to social media to issue a bold challenge:
“Boots [Jaron Ennis] will get knocked out by me. This ref still sucks. And Eddie [Eddie Hearn] gotta stop calling his fighters legends prematurely,” Garcia wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
In response, Ennis addressed Garcia’s comments in the post-fight press conference, not holding back. “Just bring him on (next). C’mon, all he does is talk and tweet, you know what I’m saying. I’m here to make history. I guarantee you, I’ll put him out… FOR SURE,” Ennis fired back.
The fight took place on November 9, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where Ennis successfully defended his IBF welterweight title. However, the bout wasn’t as one-sided as many had predicted. Chukhadzhian, who had previously been defeated by Ennis, came in more prepared, complicating the champion’s performance. While Ennis retained his title, the fight raised questions among fans, as many expected a more dominant display from the undefeated champion.
Garcia’s comments stirred up further discussion, but they weren’t the only reaction to the bout. Fellow welterweight Terence Crawford, who has a close connection with the division, offered his support to Ennis, advising him to keep improving after a tough fight.
Garcia’s bold statements seem to hint at a possible future showdown with Ennis. Although the two currently compete in different weight classes, Garcia has expressed interest in moving up to challenge Ennis at 147 pounds. Eddie Hearn, Ennis’s promoter, responded with skepticism, suggesting that Garcia and his team are unlikely to take the fight.
"[Laughs] Come on, let’s be real," Hearn said in a recent interview. "There’s no way in a million years they’re going to fight Boots. If they want it, they can come out and fight Boots first fight back for the world welterweight title. No problem. But they won’t, but we’d love to make that fight happen."
While Garcia’s challenge may just be the beginning of a heated rivalry, it has certainly sparked intrigue among boxing fans, who are eager to see if this potential fight could become a reality in the near future.
