Ring Exclusive: Jaron Ennis-David Avanesyan garners million-dollar gate
PHILADELPHIA — Jaron Ennis’ IBF welterweight title defense against David Avanesyan last Saturday pulled in the considerable gate of $1,188,430, The Ring has learned.
The Ennis-Avanesyan gate receipts are impressive considering the Philly native had not fought in his hometown since 2018 but was still able to attract an announced attendance of 14,119 to the 21,000-seat Wells Fargo Center without a high-profile opponent.
The promotion received a considerable push from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, who signed the talented welterweight earlier this year, but was only marginally helped by the Philadelphia sports media.
The 14,119 figure is the highest attendance for an indoor card in Philadelphia since Marvin Hagler beat Bennie Briscoe by 10-round decision on August 24, 1978, at the defunct Philadelphia Spectrum (14,930).
Ennis-Avanesyan is the second-highest attended fight in the United States this year, behind the announced crowd of 18,040 between MMA stars Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal on July 6 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event’s attendance number outdid the Ryan Garcia-Devin Haney match on April 20, which drew an announced crowd of 13,382 ($4,356,065 gate) from 11,480 sold to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
The Ennis-Avanesyan numbers are particularly impressive, considering the lack of local media the fight attracted. The only major media outlet that covered the fight was The Inquirer, with a few pre-fight stories and fight night coverage. Besides that, the fight went largely ignored in the Philadelphia sports media.
The card was bolstered, however, by Washington. D.C. welterweight standout Jalil Hackett, and several hometown fighters, including junior welterweight Ismail Muhammad, featherweight Christian Carto and bantamweight Dennis Thompson, who made his pro debut.
The Philadelphia boxing community responded in force, filling the lower bowl of the Wells Fargo Center, where the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Flyers play their home games.
Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center, wants Ennis back later in 2024.
Hearn pledged to make it happen.
“If Boots got over 14,000 for Avanesyan, who fought a tough fight, who knows what Boots would draw in a title fight against (WBC titlist Mario) Barrios or (WBA titlist Eimantas) Stanionis,” Hearn told The Ring. “We are coming back here. The numbers say this did well. We’re happy. I know Boots is happy, and the people who own the Wells Fargo Center have to be happy.
“This was a huge event, and the response says it was. And think about this, Boots did this on his own. (Matchroom) had a lot to do with that, but it says something about Philadelphia boxing fans. This says that they recognize talent, they recognize a champion. Boots is everything that is good about boxing, and we would probably look at a date in the fall to bring him back.”
Ed Kunkle, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, was able to comment on the announced attendance.
“The 14,119 is fantastic,” he said. “We are very happy with the turnout. The promoter was very happy with the turnout, and I do believe that they will be back soon with another event. When I went in the back before the fight to talk to Boots and Bozy (Ennis, Boots’ father and trainer), I told them that they made it to the top and they took their city with them.
“They did not have to defend the title in Philadelphia. They wanted to give back to everyone who supported them. It shows Philadelphia can support major fights—and this fight proves it. Philadelphia is a great fight city.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito
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