The unyielding ambition of Ukrainian contender Karen Chukhadzhian continues to place him squarely in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title picture, a testament to his resilience despite two prior defeats to the formidable Jaron "Boots" Ennis. This latest chapter in his pursuit of championship glory will see him face Ireland’s Paddy Donovan in an IBF-ordered welterweight eliminator, a bout that has officially advanced to the purse bid stage, as reported by sportsamo.com. Sanctioning body officials have slated a March 24 hearing to determine the promotional rights for this pivotal contest. Chukhadzhian is represented by P2M-Box Promotion, while Donovan fights under the prominent Matchroom Boxing banner, led by Eddie Hearn.
The stakes are exceptionally high, as the victor of this showdown will earn the coveted position of mandatory challenger for the IBF belt, currently held by Lewis Crocker. Chukhadzhian’s sustained presence at the elite level of the welterweight division is particularly noteworthy, given his previous encounters with Ennis. Both of those fights resulted in decisive victories for the Philadelphia native, yet the IBF’s contender system has consistently seen Chukhadzhian re-enter the rankings, demonstrating a remarkable ability to bounce back and remain in contention.
Chukhadzhian’s first opportunity at an IBF title came in January 2023, when he challenged Ennis for the interim IBF belt. The bout, fought at a high tempo, saw Ennis ultimately prevail by decision, snapping a formidable 20-fight win streak for the Ukrainian. This loss marked only the second of Chukhadzhian’s professional career, the first having occurred in his very second professional outing during a one-night Super 8 tournament. Despite the setback, Chukhadzhian did not falter. Instead, he embarked on a swift and successful rebuilding phase, securing three consecutive victories following his defeat to Ennis. A notable win in this run was his May 2024 decision over Harry Scarff, a performance that effectively re-inserted him into the IBF contender conversation.
This impressive resurgence earned Chukhadzhian a second encounter with Ennis. His promoter, P2M-Box, emerged victorious in the purse bid for the rematch, though the fight ultimately found a home on a Matchroom card staged in Philadelphia. While Chukhadzhian demonstrated grit, absorbing a knockdown in the fifth round, he once again managed to go the distance, only to fall short on the scorecards for a second time. Undeterred, Chukhadzhian has continued his winning ways since that bout, amassing two more victories. His most recent triumph came in October of last year, where he delivered a decisive second-round knockout against Joel Mafauad in Riga, Latvia. These wins have solidified his standing within the IBF’s upper echelons, securing him this crucial eliminator bout against Donovan and placing him, once again, just one step away from a shot at the world championship.
Paddy Donovan, the Irish southpaw, arrives at this high-stakes contest following a period marked by significant challenges and a burgeoning rivalry with Lewis Crocker. Their initial encounter last March ended in controversy, with Donovan being disqualified after knocking Crocker down just as the eighth round concluded. The subsequent rematch for the vacant IBF belt in September proved to be a closely contested affair, with Crocker securing a narrow decision victory after Donovan was sent to the canvas on two occasions. More recently, Donovan was slated to face Liam Paro in another IBF eliminator earlier this year. However, he was forced to withdraw from the bout due to illness during his training camp. This withdrawal led to Paro’s advancement into the mandatory contender position, ultimately securing him a title fight against Crocker. This turn of events paved the way for Donovan’s current matchup with Chukhadzhian in this critical IBF eliminator.
Under the stringent regulations of the IBF, both Chukhadzhian and Donovan are bound by specific protocols. They are required to remain available for the purse bid process. Should either fighter opt to take another bout before the resolution of this eliminator, the sanctioning body reserves the right to remove them from the rankings and impose a six-month suspension from all IBF-sanctioned fights. This ensures that the path to the mandatory challenger status is clear and contested by the designated fighters. The upcoming purse bid promises to be a significant event, determining which promotional entity will have the opportunity to stage this crucial welterweight eliminator and further fueling the anticipation for the eventual championship opportunity for the winner.
