Jaron Ennis calls for Terence Crawford showdown after successful homecoming win against David Avanesyan

THE Philadelphia homecoming for Jaron Ennis proved to be a successful one after the 27-year-old stopped David Avanesyan in five rounds to retain his IBF welterweight world title.

A five-figure crowd turned out at the Wells Fargo Centre to welcome Ennis back, hoping to see something spectacular in the process.

Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) had been originally scheduled to face Cody Crowley, but a medical issue forced the Canadian out, leaving Ennis’s new promoter, Eddie Hearn, tasked with finding a replacement. Avanesyan, now 35, has shared the ring with names like Shane Mosley, Lamont Peterson, Egidijus Kavaliauskas and Terence Crawford but now on the home straight of his career, the former WBA welterweight title holder found Ennis too much to handle.

In the opening seconds, Avanesyan appeared troubled by a jolting jab through the guard from Ennis, painting a picture that an early night may be possible. But the British-based Armenian gave what he had left to offer for a fight at short notice, having been through more battles in the ring than his American opponent.

Avanesyan (right) reacts having been caught by a low blow in the early rounds

With a minute left in the opening frame Avanesyan, (30-5-1, 18 KOs), needed a timeout after being caught with a wincing low blow which would have crippled many a fighter. Taking as much time as he needed, Avanesyan soon returned to the fold.

Ennis began putting shots together from the second round and was landing at will with both hands. His veteran challenger has never been the most elusive target, which allowed Ennis to land twos and threes from the same hand to head and body. It wasn’t all one-way traffic, however. Occasionally, the Philadelphian’s overeagerness got the better of him, and he walked on to a few, which may have been a result of 12 months out of the ring.

The third saw Ennis chopping away at the body hoping to bring Avanesyan down with punishing shots. By the fourth Avanesyan’s nose was bloody but his fighting spirit was still alive although the body shots were creating openings which Ennis took advantage of. Referee Eric Dali began keeping a close eye on the away fighter as the round came to a close.

Avanesyan was on course to have his best round of the fight in the fifth, landing a right hook and an uppercut to get Ennis’s attention. Another right hand from the Armenian was countered with a left from the champion, which dropped the challenger with 60 seconds left. The punishment continued and when Avanesyan returned to his corner, referee Dali and the ringside physician conversed and eventually the fight was waved off.

“I did feel a little off but I got the job done,” Ennis said during his post-fight interview. “My timing was a little off but it’s okay. Everything will be great.”

Eddie Hearn is keen to put Ennis in against former undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford if the Nebraskan can defeat WBA super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles.

“Most definitely, that’s what I want – the big names,” Ennis said. “Terence Crawford, anybody else that’s a big name can get it.”