10/23/2024
Welterweight contender Rashidi “Speedy” Ellis (24-1, 15 KOs) is set to make his long-awaited return to the ring on Friday, October 25. Headlining Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES) Boxing’s “Halloween Knock Out” event at the Oceanside Events Center in Revere, Massachusetts, Ellis will square off against Brian Damian Chaves (14-5, 5 KOs). This bout will mark Ellis’ return from suspension and be televised live on DAZN, a platform known for broadcasting top-tier boxing matchups.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
This will be Ellis’ first fight since serving a suspension by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission (MSAC). His punishment stemmed from his involvement in a brawl that broke out during a Team Combat League (TCL) event on July 17 at Royale Nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts. Ellis, fighting for his hometown Boston Butchers, was among five boxers suspended by the MSAC, including Samuel Arnold, Amin Mitchell, Miguel Teo, and Mona Ward.
The chaotic scene erupted after a heated exchange between Arnold and Teo, which quickly escalated into a full-blown melee involving members from both teams. Though the event continued after order was restored, the MSAC took action, suspending all fighters who played a role in the altercation. Ellis’ suspension has expired, allowing him to step back into the ring this Friday.
The upcoming fight is more than just a return for Ellis; it’s an opportunity for him to restore a once-promising career derailed by outside-the-ring complications and in-ring setbacks. At 31, the Lynn, Massachusetts native, once viewed as one of the brightest rising stars in the welterweight division, is aiming to show that he still belongs among boxing’s elite.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
Ellis’ journey to boxing stardom began early. He compiled an impressive 60-11 amateur record, capped by a silver medal performance at the Independent Cup in the Dominican Republic, where he narrowly lost to 2012 Olympic gold medalist Roniel Iglesias. He also claimed victory in the 2012 National Police Athletic League championships and won the prestigious New England Golden Gloves three times, further establishing his credentials.
Turning professional in 2013, Ellis quickly made waves in the sport. He debuted in July with a unanimous decision win over Josh Beeman, followed by back-to-back first-round TKOs of Aguilando Brandao and Oscar Diaz. His breakout year came in 2014, when Ellis went 10-0, scoring eight knockouts and fighting at weights ranging from 144 to 154 pounds. By 2015, he had amassed a record of 13-0 and stopped Victor Gonzalez by fourth-round TKO in March of that year.
Ellis’ talent didn’t go unnoticed by top trainers and fighters. He was brought into camp to spar with boxing legends like Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez, experiences that undoubtedly helped refine his skills and increase his exposure. In 2016, he signed a promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions, run by Oscar De La Hoya, and his career appeared poised to skyrocket.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
In his first few years under Golden Boy, Ellis continued to rise through the welterweight ranks. He earned key victories, including an emphatic 79-second stoppage of Eddie Gomez in 2016. In 2017, Ellis bested John Karl Sosa over 10 rounds before notching several dominant performances in 2018 and 2019, including a TKO of Saul Corral and a unanimous decision win over Alberto Mosquera.
One of Ellis’ most impressive career highlights came in October 2020 when he defeated fellow prospect Alexis Rocha via unanimous decision in a highly anticipated welterweight showdown. After that, Ellis seemed poised for a title run, but momentum stalled. Despite calls for a fight with fellow Golden Boy welterweight Vergil Ortiz, a series of promotional miscommunications and a contract dispute with Golden Boy Promotions kept Ellis sidelined.
This contractual battle cost Ellis valuable time in the ring and stunted his career’s upward trajectory. By the time the dispute was resolved, Ellis had been inactive for nearly two years. Upon securing his freedom from Golden Boy in 2022, Ellis signed with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and returned to action with a swift first-round TKO victory over Jose Marruffo.
Photo Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
The victory over Marruffo set up what many believed would be Ellis’ breakthrough opportunity against rising star Jaron “Boots” Ennis. However, negotiations fell through after Ellis felt the financial offer was disrespectful, and instead, he took a fight against hard-hitting Venezuelan Roiman Villa in January 2023. The bout, part of the Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis García undercard, was intended to keep Ellis in the title hunt. Despite an impressive start, Ellis’ fortunes soured in the final round, where Villa knocked him down twice en route to a dramatic, come-from-behind victory. Though Ellis outboxed Villa for much of the fight, the late-round knockdowns and the judges’ scorecards favored Villa, handing Ellis his first career loss.
Ellis disputed the decision, stating, “I want the rematch right away. I thought I was dictating the fight… I was winning most of the rounds.” Unfortunately, that rematch never materialized, as Villa went on to challenge Ennis for the IBF Welterweight title.
With his career on hold after the Villa loss and compounded by a lingering hand injury, Ellis used the time to reconnect with his Massachusetts roots, training local prospects like middleweight Michael Fontanez and amateur standout Charles “Hitman” Stone. He also joined the Team Combat League, where he remained active, but traditional professional boxing remained his primary focus.
Photo Credit: Charles “Hitman” Stone
Now, with the TCL brawl and suspension behind him, Ellis is focused on climbing back up the welterweight ranks. While his immediate task is a victory over Brian Damian Chaves on Friday night, Ellis’ ambitions reach much further. “I want a real fight,” Ellis told Brunch Boxing, as he surveys the top of the 147-pound division. “It’s a lot of names at welterweight. Boots, Barrios, Stanionis, Brian Norman, even Cody Crowley.”
A win over Chaves could open the door to bigger opportunities, and sources suggest that PBC, Misfits Boxing, and ProBox TV all have interest in Ellis’ future. For Ellis, Friday night is about more than just getting back in the win column—it’s about reigniting his pursuit of a world title, proving that he still belongs in the sport’s upper echelon, and showing that the best of “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis is yet to come.
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