BOSTON, MA — After delivering a thunderous third-round knockout of Josec Ruiz last month, top welterweight contender “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis (27-1, 18 KOs) is putting the division’s champions on notice: The time for avoiding him is over.
The 31-year-old Lynn, Massachusetts native, known for his blinding speed and explosive power, is calling out reigning world champions Brian Norman Jr. (WBO), Mario Barrios (WBC), and Rolando “Rolly” Romero (WBA), daring them to step into the ring to determine who is the best welterweight in the world.
“Brian Norman Jr. has no excuses now,” said Ellis. “‘Boots’ Ennis left the division. He ducked Boots and now he’s ducking me. Don’t talk about me fighting Rohan Polanco while you’re racing track stars—come and face the truth. Let’s show the world who the best is.”
This past year, Ellis and Norman Jr. seemed poised for a blockbuster showdown as they traded barbs on social media. Each delivered highlight-reel knockouts within days of each other: Norman stopping Jin Sasaki in Japan on June 19, and Ellis dropping Josec Ruiz three times for a third-round stoppage two days later in Massachusetts.
“Norman said he’d fight me, then he went quiet,” Ellis continued. “Now he announces a track meet with Devin Haney. Come on, man. Real fighters fight. What are we doing here?”
‘The Savage with a Smile’ believes the fans deserve real fights—not carefully curated title defenses.
“If you’re a real champion, step up and prove it,” Ellis declared. “Mario Barrios is fighting a 46-year-old Pacquiao. Norman’s chasing clout fights. If you call yourself a world champion, then step up and prove it. Until you beat me, you can’t call yourself the best.”
With three straight electrifying wins, Rashidi Ellis is on a mission to prove he’s the best in the world and he won’t be denied any longer.
Stay tuned—the welterweight division is about to get a whole lot hotter.
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INFORMATION
ABOUT CES BOXING
CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III”and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.