Jaron 'Boots' Ennis went the distance for the first time in his career as he defeated Karen Chukhadzhian.
The unbeaten American was the clear favourite against the unfancied Ukrainian, and Chukhadzian played out all 12 rounds with a defensive mindset.
The judges scored Ennis the overwhelming winner with all three of them giving it 120-108 in his favour, and ‘Boots’ is now the IBF champion at welterweight.
Ennis and Chukhadzhian were fighting on the Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis Garcia undercard, and could serve as a reminder to Ennis that he may now be the interim champion but he has work to do before meeting one of the division’s champions, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr.
Ennis could instead be lined up for a fight with another welterweight, Rashidi Ellis, having previously suggested that it could be a ‘cool rivalry’ but Ellis’ brother Ronald suggested that such a match-up would have to wait.
Current WBO champion Crawford fought in December last year to beat David Avanesyan, but Spence Jr. is yet to land another fight after retiring Shawn Porter.
Ennis, Ellis and any other fighters at 147lbs may have to wait for an undisputed clash before a fight for one of the belts can be made,