‘Two Kings’ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez share top billing in Philadelphia on Saturday night - and both men are honored to be fighting side-by-side at Wells Fargo Center live worldwide on DAZN, with Ennis defending his IBF world welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian and Rodriguez defends his WBC world and Ring Magazine super-flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara.
Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) is back at the venue of the first defense of his crown in July, where he forced David Avanesyan to retire after five rounds in an electric atmosphere at a packed Wells Fargo Center.
A fortnight before that win from Boots, Rodriguez (20-0 13 KOs) crashed into the top ten of the pound-for-pound rankings with a stunning KO win over Juan Francisco Estrada in Phoenix, cementing his place amongst the best in the business, and proving once again to be a must-see act.
The pair now look to take care of business and end their year on a high, and the Two Kings are delighted to be able to perform at the top of a stacked bill.
“It’s crazy to have someone like Bam on the card,” said Ennis. “He’s #7 on the pound-for-pound list, it’s going to be fireworks, the whole card is great from top to bottom. You’ve got two of my fighters on there in Dennis Thompson and Ishmael Muhammad, there’s Ray Ford, Khalil Coe, it’s crazy and it’s one not to be missed, it’s explosive.
“Bam and I can go as far as we want to take it. I think I can go up to 168lbs, Bam, he’s already been going up and down from 112 to 118, so he can go to 126 and do his thing there to. We’re going to take this as far as we want, we just have to stay focused and keep doing our thing.
“We were in the Olympic training center together in 2016, the year before I turned pro. He was there doing his thing, and he’s always been nice since we were younger, and I can’t wait for us to show out on Saturday.”
“Boots Ennis is a star here in Philadelphia, and in boxing too,” said Rodriguez. “I saw the crowd for his last fight so to be a part of that and get more exposure on the East Coast, that’s why it makes sense to me. To share a card with a great fighter like Jaron is good for both of us. I like the Two Kings, it’s badass, and I really feel that’s how it is, so it makes sense.
“From what I see on Instagram, Boots works his a— off, and that’s something I do as well. We have that in common and inside the ring we both have good agility, good footwork, good IQ, so I think we’ve got a lot in common.”
Boots and Bam headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former world champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at super-featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, Light-heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho over ten rounds at super-lightweight and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.
Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at super-featherweight.