Protracted stints on the shelf consistently frustrated Rashidi Ellis. In both 2019 and 2020, the highly-ranked welterweight contender fought just once. In 2021, he failed to enter the ring at all. Although his 2022 campaign appeared to be a different story, following a quick first-round knockout victory over Jose Marruffo, Ellis (24-0 15 KOs) returned to the sidelines.

Now, determined to put his promotional issues behind him, Ellis will make his 2023 debut on January 7th, against the hard-hitting Roiman Villa. According to oddsmakers, Ellis will have little to no trouble dealing with what’s perceived as a tenuous challenger.

In a perfect world, if Ellis handles his business, he would love nothing more than to take on one of the present title holders at 147 pounds. However, if a shot at a championship trinket fails to materialize, a showdown against Jaron Ennis could become a distinct possibility.

Shortly after taking center stage against Villa, the Philadelphia slugger will look to score yet another devastating knockout when he squares off against Karen Chukhadzhian. With the pair of championship hopefuls exchanging heated words during a recent presser, they nearly needed to be separated.

While he admits that he’s fully focused on taking Villa down, Ellis acknowledges that something special could be brewing between himself and Ennis.

“That could be a cool rivalry,” said Ellis to BoxingScene.com. “That could be cool.”

Ellis, since breaking away from Golden Boy Promotions, is attempting to elevate himself squarely into the spotlight.

As his showdown against Villa nears, Ellis begins brandishing a devilish smile. Ultimately, his jubilant attitude stems from a multitude of avenues. Of course, the 29-year-old is grateful to display his talent on Saturday night but he’s incredibly intrigued by a matchup against the budding star out of Philadelphia.

Although his main objective is to take care of business against Villa, Ellis reveals that the moment his hand is raised, he fully intends on sitting down with the powers that be and do his best to hammer out a deal with team Ennis.

“I could, I probably am,” said Ellis to BoxingScene.com when asked if he’ll push for a showdown against Ennis next. “We’ll see. He’s a great fighter.”